Castlebythe

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameCastlebythe
Alternative NamesCastell y Bwch; the buck's castle; Castell y Fuwch; Castelbegh; Castellbugh
Historic CountryPembrokeshire
Modern AuthorityPembrokeshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityPuncheston

This mound stands in the centre of the village of Castlebythe, a few yards from the parish church. The Ordnance sheet styles it a " Tumulus," and marks another monument adjoining it as "Castell y Fuwch." It is, however, an unmistakable mound castle, the adjacent Castell y Fuwch being the bailey. The mound has been much disturbed, whereby its appearance has been altered. Its height varies from 10 feet to 20 feet, and its summit diameter is about 40 feet. It was surrounded by a ditch which is much filled up. The bailey is an oval measuring 220 feet by 170 feet; its encircling bank has a height of 12 feet from the bottom of the ditch. There is a strong spring just within the north bank. Lieut.-Col. W. LI. Morgan, R.E., an ex-Commissioner, was informed in 1870 of "a further enclosure to the north-east, slightly longer than this detached bailey. About half of it was destroyed by the making of the railway." This second enclosure has almost entirely disappeared. (RCAHMW)

An apparently isolated and disturbed motte, 4.2m high. (Coflein)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and ditch, dating to the medieval period (c. 1066 -1540 AD). A motte is a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil and/or stone, usually surrounded by either a wet or dry ditch, and surmounted by a tower constructed of timber or stone. The motte is 40ft in diameter across the top and stands to a height of 12-15ft. It is somewhat mis-shapen and covered in grass. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

A Cas Fuwch enclosure 300m west cannot be the lost Castell y Fuwch bailey. The railway has also now disappeared and the removal of the railway is likely to have destroyed whatever archaeology was left.

- 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 ReferenceSN021289
Latitude51.9242401123047
Longitude-4.87862014770508
Eastings202160
Northings228990
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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. 73
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 178
  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 30-1
  • 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. 60 no. 135 online copy

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