Pen y Cnap, Llanegwad

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte), and also as a Certain Masonry Castle

There are earthwork remains

NamePen y Cnap, Llanegwad
Alternative Names
Historic CountryCarmarthenshire
Modern AuthorityCarmarthenshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityLlanegwad

Motte, 5.6m high, with a summit diameter of 11m. The track of the ditch can be traced, whilst the existence of a bailey is problematic. there are traces of stonework about the motte summit. (Coflein)

Pen-y-cnap motte appears as recorded in Carm S.A.M.S (S.Rees). Several trees have since fallen from the northern and eastern sides of the motte causing landslides. Intensive sheep grazing has worsened the erosion. On the southern side some stone walling is evident. The tree covered motte is badly eroded by the sheep grazing in the same field. Except for the large trees there is little vegetation on the motte and virtually none on the sides so that further severe erosion seems inevitable. (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER)

Pen y Knap castle comprises the remains of a motte and ditch, dating to the medieval period. A motte is a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil and/or stone surmounted by a tower constructed of timber or stone usually surrounded by either a wet or dry ditch and sometimes accompanied by one or more embanked enclosures (a bailey). The existence of a bailey at Pen y Knap though reported early in the 20th century is currently unproven. The motte measures 5.6m in height with traces of stonework on the 11m diameter summit, both the surrounding ditch and counterscarp bank are evident. Records show that in 1203 the castle came into the possession of, Rhys Ieuanc, son of Rhys ap Gruffudd (the Lord Rhys). The parish church of St Egwad’s 250m to the west also dates from the post-conquest period. (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 ReferenceSN516213
Latitude51.8712387084961
Longitude-4.15620994567871
Eastings251640
Northings221380
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 236 (listed)
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 58
  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 35
  • Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p. 37
  • Davis, P.R., 1987, Castles of Dyfed (Llandysul: Gomer Press) p. 70
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 57
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 228
  • RCAHMW, 1917, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Carmarthenshire (HMSO) p. 117 no. 337 online copy
  • Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p. 289 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

Primary Sources

  • Brut y Tywysogion 1203 (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)