Picton Motte, The Belvedere
Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)
There are earthwork remains
| Name | Picton Motte, The Belvedere |
| Alternative Names | Dungledi |
| Historic Country | Pembrokeshire |
| Modern Authority | Pembrokeshire |
| 1974 Authority | Dyfed |
| Community | Slebech |
A Norman motte castle was placed at the summit of gently rising ground about half a mile east of the present castellated residence. It occupies almost certainly the site of the castle of ' Dungledi,' erected by Wiz or Wizo, a Fleming, who early in the 12th century was granted by Henry I the lordship of Daugleddau, the land between the two Cleddau. There are no indications that the original wooden defences ever gave place to others in stone, and it is clear that about a century and a half after its erection it was deserted for the fine 13th-century castle, which was placed in a more sheltered position below it. The mound is about 24 feet high, and has a summit diameter of about 50 feet. The moat still remains, though made more shallow by subsequent disturbances to the mound. The bailey was probably on the north side. (RCAHMW, 1925)
A tapering oval mound, depicted on OS County series (Pembroke. XXVIII.10 1889), c.58m E-W by 40m, havind a roughly circular, level summit, c.20m in diameter, approached by a ramp from the W. A N-S ditch curves around the mound to the E, leaving a c.5.0 wide terrace on this side. The mound is first depicted in 1773, topped by a square building, possibly the domed summer house, or pavilion, under construction 1729-30. This structure was demolished by 1889; OS Landline depicting a 10m N-S by 5.0m structure upon the summit. A passageway, currently blocked, possibly a grotto, or the 'gallery' mentioned in 1729-30, is set within the body of the mound. Source: CADW 2002 (Parks & Gardens of Wales; Pembrokeshire), 281-2. (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. Picton Castle motte measures 60ft across the top and 20ft high
There are two huge water tanks on top of the mound, and pipes go down into it. There is a tunnel on west side. (Scheduling Report)
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 Reference | SN016135 |
| Latitude | 51.7850799560547 |
| Longitude | -4.87749004364014 |
| Eastings | 201620 |
| Northings | 213520 |
