Twiscob Moat, Whitton

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Ringwork), and also as a Rejected Fortified Manor House

There are earthwork remains

NameTwiscob Moat, Whitton
Alternative NamesCascob; Ffossidoes
Historic CountryRadnorshire
Modern AuthorityPowys
1974 AuthorityPowys
CommunityWhitton

A low lying, sub-circular, moated enclosure, c.30m in diameter, with a retaining counterscarp, c.64m overall. (Coflein)

Roughly circular earthwork formed by ditch cut across east end of low spur. Creating level platform 30m diameter encircled by flat-bottomed ditch and earthen rampart. Entrance probably originally on now mutilated north-west side. Probably a moated site; four of the eight known circular moats in Wales occur in north-east Radnorshire. The interior of the moated site is uneven but lacks any firm evidence of structural remains, although the ground rises slightly to the NW. Structural foundations were reported by RCHAMW in 1913. It was inhabited in the C18 (Cadw, 1998). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument comprises the remains of a well-preserved medieval moated homestead, situated by a ford and trackway over a stream. The site is a roughly circular enclosure, measuring c.55m east-west by c.50m. It is composed of a level interior c.30m in diameter, surrounded by a flat-bottomed ditch and outer bank. The ditch is still partially water-filled, and is c.8m to c.12m wide and c.1.3 to c.1.8m deep below the interior. The narrow external bank rises up to c.3m above the base of the ditch on its inner side and stands c.1 to c.1.5m above the surrounding area. The interior is somewhat higher than the surrounding land. The entrance to the enclosure was probably on the west, where the ditch and outer bank are broken by a causeway c.7m wide, but this area has been disturbed by vehicular access in the past. The break in the outer bank on the east is almost certainly modern, and the bank also disappears for a short distance on the north. (Scheduling Report)

Suggested as powerful embanked work. Is just a normal homestead moat. (King 1983)

Gatehouse Comments

There is no such thing as a 'normal' homestead motte in mid Wales, where such things are rare and those that do exist may have Dark Age origins. However, within the context of David King's idea of early castles, this can be rejected as a 'castle'.

- 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 ReferenceSO228656
Latitude52.283260345459
Longitude-3.13193011283875
Eastings322870
Northings265600
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

  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 413 (reject)
  • Downman, E.A., 1916, Ancient Earthworks in Radnorshire
  • RCAHMW, 1913, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Radnorshire (HMSO) p. 27 no. 99 online copy