Llangwm Uchaf

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Ringwork)

There are earthwork remains

NameLlangwm Uchaf
Alternative NamesCamp House; Beiliau Llangwm
Historic CountryMonmouthshire
Modern AuthorityMonmouthshire
1974 AuthorityGwent
CommunityLlangwm

The remains of a ring motte now incorporated into a private garden at the rear of Camp House. Some of the scarps shown on the last published OS map have now gone - the remaining ditch on the S and the nearby scarp of the ring bank. An oval enclosure, c.14-16m in diameter, embanked and formerly ditched. (Coflein)

'The interpretation of the site .. is very difficult given the limited and contradictory evidence available. The most likely interpretation is that the site was a watch-tower with a limited directional advantage. It is not possible to assign the site to a period but it is less likely that it was a late construction as it would have been too small for residential purposes.' (Phillips)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period. A motte and bailey castle comprises a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil or stone (the motte) surrounded by, or adjacent to, one or more embanked enclosures (the bailey). Both may be surrounded by wet or dry ditches and could be further strengthened with palisades, revetments, and/or a tower on top of the motte. The site lies in the garden of Camp Farm and forms part of the garden to the NW of the house. It consists of a circular mound and scarp continuing from the mound on its S side. On the W side of the mound the ground drops 1.5-2m, while on the N side there is a drop of 1.7m to a narrow berm on which is the fence bounding the garden. Below the ground drops steeply to a large scooped area in a grass field. On the S side of the mound a low scarp, 1m high, continues S from the mound to the road. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

The current low motte is damaged and much of it may well be missing. It is possible that this may have been a fundamental symbolic motte, associated with a 'knights fee' farmstead and the residential building were in a 'bailey', the site of the current house, for which some slight topographical evidence survives.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceST427997
Latitude51.6939697265625
Longitude-2.82959008216858
Eastings342750
Northings199790
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 243 (listed)
  • Prior, Stuart, 2006, A Few Well-Positioned Castles: The Norman Art of War (Tempus) p. 110-164
  • Phillips, Neil, 2006, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (British Archaeological Reports) p. 242-3
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 146
  • Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p. 74 (slight)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 285
  • Bradney, J.A., 1904-33, History of Monmouthshire Vol. 3 p. 161 (a bare mention)

Journals

  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124

Other

  • Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (PhD Thesis University of Sheffield) Download