Battle Tump, Llanelly

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are uncertain remains

NameBattle Tump, Llanelly
Alternative Names
Historic CountryBrecknockshire
Modern AuthorityMonmouthshire
1974 AuthorityGwent
CommunityLlanelly

Battle Tump comprises of a large oval mound c 15ft high. The area on top is only partly flat and slopes downwards away from the castle. The long oval mound stands on flat ground at the northern end of Lower Common, adjacent to the garden of Dan-y-coed. The highest end is the north-western end, which stands 4-5m high. The sides at the end are quite steep. The top is flattish and narrow, sloping gradually down towards the south-east end. (Coflein)

Phillips notes that key features of Battle Tump include an elongated mound with a narrow ridge top and a north-west south-east orientation aligned with the valley; he interprets the site as geological with no characteristics associated with a motte and bailey (Phillips 2004). (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument consists of a large oval mound approximately 70m long by 30m wide. The mound comprises an artificial elevation of earth and river pebbles and is a maximum height of 5m at the NW end. Here the summit of the mound is relatively flat with steep sides. On the SE side of the summit the mound slopes gradually down. The mound is covered with trees and partly contained within a private garden. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

This site has been considered by some writers to be a castle but is rejected as such by Hogg and King. This site appears to be scheduled as a medieval mound, in Broadclass 'Defence' but was still described as a castle mound in local government documents dated 1999. Unusually for a SAM it is not marked on the OS map. In CA King writes "Identified as a motte, it is in fact a long hog-backed mound of river boulders, presumably artificial, but of obscure purpose." Phillips reports a local legend of the structure being the grave of warriors.

- 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 ReferenceSO246156
Latitude51.8344993591309
Longitude-3.09530997276306
Eastings324600
Northings215600
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Phillips, Neil, 2006, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (British Archaeological Reports) p. 121-2 (reject)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 22

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 (reject)

Other

  • Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (PhD Thesis University of Sheffield) Download