Castell Hywel, Llandysul

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameCastell Hywel, Llandysul
Alternative NamesHumphrey Castle; Castell Hwmphre; Valley of Cletwr; Howels Castle; Castell Howell; Castell Wmphre; Castell Hywell; Castell Wmffre
Historic CountryCardiganshire
Modern AuthorityCeredigion
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityLlandysul

A sub-circular steep-sided mound, set on the western point of a spur above the valley of the Clettwr Fach, thought to represent a medieval castle motte: the mound is about 40m in diameter and rises 9.5m to a level summit, 18m in diameter, mutilated by trenching; ditched except on the west, where it rests on a 12m high scarp above the valley bottom: identified with Humphrey's Castle, recorded as destroyed in 1136 & rebuilt, 1153. (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 mound at Castell Hywel stands c.8m above the road which adjoins it on the west. It is c.12m across the top and has a ditch on the east and south which peters out on the north, where a steep slope runs down to a stream, and the west, where the road may have cut through it. There has been some disturbance to the top of the motte, with an old trench c.8m long and up to c.2m deep running in from the east side. There was possibly once an enclosure on its east side. (Scheduling Report)

End of a ridge cut off by a ditch to make a motte c. 6m high and 15m across the top. The castle here existed by 1137 when it was captured and burnt by the sons of Gruffydd ap Cynan. Hywel ab Owain rebuilt the castle in 1151 but in 1158 it was captured by Roger de Clare.

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 ReferenceSN440476
Latitude52.1052093505859
Longitude-4.27859020233154
Eastings244040
Northings247650
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 234 (listed)
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 41
  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 29-30 (reconstructon)
  • Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p. 23
  • Davis, P.R., 1987, Castles of Dyfed (Llandysul: Gomer Press) p. 69
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 46
  • Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p. 359
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 207
  • Owen, Henry (ed), 1936, The Description of Pembrokeshire (London) Vol. 4 p. 493-4
  • Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p. 283 online copy
  • Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales online copy

Journals

  • Kenyon, John R., 1996, 'Fluctuating Frontiers: Normanno-Welsh Castle Warfare c. 1075 to 1240' Château Gaillard Vol. 17 p. 119-126
  • 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
  • Brown, R, Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol. 74 p. 249-280 (Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 90-121) view online copy (subscription required)
  • King, D.J.C., 1956, 'The Castles of Cardiganshire' Ceredigion Vol. 3 p. 60 no. 15 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Brut y Tywysogion 1136, 1151, 11153, 1158 (Several transcriptions and translations exist the best being Jones, T., 1952, Brut Y Twysogion (University of Wales, History and Law series 11)–based on the Peniarth MS 20 version. There is a flawed translation Williams ab Ithel, John, 1860, Brut Y Twysogion or The Chronicle of the Princes (Rolls Series) online copy)