Powis Middle Park Mound

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NamePowis Middle Park Mound
Alternative NamesPola; Pole; Pool; Trallwng
Historic CountryMontgomeryshire
Modern AuthorityPowys
1974 AuthorityPowys
CommunityWelshpool

A ditched mound, 23m in diameter and 1.8m high, set into a sub-circular ditched enclosure, c.48m in diameter. (Coflein)

Very feeble mound and enclosure, not very much like even an unfinished motte and bailey. (King)

The monument consists of a well-preserved circular mound c.1.5m in height and c.20m in diameter, with a flat summit. A sub-rectangular earthwork runs northward from the eastern edge of the mound and runs around the western side, forming an enclosure c.34m N-S x 40m. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval settlement, and possible prehistoric funerary practices. Although the origin of the earthworks are uncertain, and indeed may be multi-period in date, it is well-preserved and its location gives it added group value. (Scheduling Report)

Spurgeon favours a peculiar barrow as the best explanation for this mound. The RCAHMW thought was a barrow with a drainage ditch and floodbank. Later investigations by Thomas seem to favour site as a motte. He writes 'Ditch of motte c 62m dia E section not visible, possible entrance on NE side a bank running for 56m lies to the W'

Peter Barton (2012) suggests this was a look out point for the neighbouring castles (Domen Castell Ladies Mount Nantcribba Lower Munlyn Hen Domen on the grounds of inter-visibility and, in the 'almost perfect straight line' alignment of this site and Domen Castell and Ladies Mount.

Gatehouse Comments

Gatehouse does not find Barton's argument convincing (he does not take into account the cost of staffing a lookout) and this is a site that requires further study. It is in the centre of Powis Castle park and may have had use and origin as a park feature ? viewing mound, ? foresters lodge? swainmoot mound?

- 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 ReferenceSJ201057
Latitude52.6437110900879
Longitude-3.18072009086609
Eastings320170
Northings305750
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 245 (listed)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 301
  • Spurgeon, C.J., 1972, 'Enclosures of Iron Age Type in the upper Severn Basin' In Burgess, C. and Lynch, F Prehistoric Man In Wales and the West (Adams & Dart, Bath) p. 321-44
  • RCAHMW, 1911, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Montgomeryshire (HMSO) p. 181 no. 928 online copy

Journals

  • P.G. Barton, 2013, 'Welshpool 'Motte and Bailey' Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 101 p. 151-54 (slight)
  • Barton, Peter G., 2012-13, 'Powis Castles Middle Park 'Motte and Bailey'' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol. 26 p. 185-89
  • Spurgeon, C.J., 1966, ‘The castles of Montgomeryshire’ Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 59 p. 50-51 online copy

Other

  • Thomas, D., 1998, South Twyi/Irfon/Crychan/Glasfynydd Archaeological Assessment (CPAT report)