Castell Eglwyswrw

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Ringwork Motte), and also as a Certain Masonry Castle

There are earthwork remains

NameCastell Eglwyswrw
Alternative NamesTyddin; Eglwsywrw
Historic CountryPembrokeshire
Modern AuthorityPembrokeshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityEglwyswrw

This earthwork lies about 300 yards south-west of the parish church. It consists of a somewhat oblong-shaped bailey, having the mound placed in the south-west corner. The mound has a height of from 8 to 10 feet and a summit diameter of 16 feet. The top is slightly depressed towards the centre. The bailey (60 feet by 90 feet) is surrounded by a ditch; its somewhat obliterated entrance is in the north- east corner; the rampart has an average height of 4 feet, with a fall of 10 feet to the bottom of the ditch, the counterscarp being 4 feet high. The work is in a fair state of preservation. (RCAHMW, 1925)

An earthwork enclosure thought to represent a medieval castle: a ditched & massively ramparted enclosure, about 30m east-west by 16m, set above natural slopes on the north & east, having a slightly inturned entrance in its northern face, where the south-western angle is overlain by a steep-sided generally circular mound, about 16m in diameter & rising 3.0m above the ramparts with a summit area about 6.0m across (Coflein)

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. Castell Eglwysyrw is an oval earthwork with a greatest diameter of 35ft, formed by single bank rising 12' - 15' above the ditch and 4ft above the interior on the north and less on the south. In the north-east corner there is a round rising 10ft above interior in the outside of the top of which there is the remains of stone walling. The ditch has 4ft 6ins counterscarp but less on the north where the ground falls to stream. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Motte and bailey (Davis and Salter describes as partial ringwork) with remains of tower. King describes it as either a ringwork and a motte in different texts.

- 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 ReferenceSN138383
Latitude52.0126190185547
Longitude-4.71330976486206
Eastings213890
Northings238390
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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 247 (listed)
  • Hull, Lise, 2005, Castles and Bishops Palaces of Pembrokeshire (Logaston Press) p. 91
  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 33 (reconstruction)
  • Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p. 86 (slight)
  • Miles, Dillwyn, 1979 (Revised 1988), Castles of Pembrokeshire (Pembrokeshire Coast National Park) p. 5-7
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 392
  • RCAHMW, 1925, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Pembrokeshire (HMSO) p. 93 no. 235 online copy

Journals

  • King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol. 3 p. 90-127
  • 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