Waun Ddu, Myddfai

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameWaun Ddu, Myddfai
Alternative NamesY Pigwrn
Historic CountryCarmarthenshire
Modern AuthorityCarmarthenshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityMyddfai

A round-angled, banked/ramparted square enclosure, 30m across internally, having a subcircular mound, 30m in diameter & 1.3m high, with a summit area 15m in diameter, at/set over its northern angle; set upon a slight knoll, with ground falling away to the north-west, this monument is interpreted as a Roman fortlet, or temporary camp, with the mound as a medieval castle mound; the enclosure seems likely, both on morphological grounds & in its proximity to known monuments, to be a Roman military work, whilst the identification of the mound is less certain, it being possible that this is also a Roman feature. (Coflein–ref. Jones 1970)

The monument is comprised of buried features and earthworks representing a small Roman fort and is situated the open moorland of the Mynydd Myddfai ridge. The primary Roman fort network was designed and constructed by the Roman army for the purpose of military conquest and rule. The fort is located on ground falling away to the north west on a slight rise 50m west of the Roman road between Brecon and Llandovery. It consists of a round cornered rectangular earthwork 9m square bounded by a low bank c 8m wide and rising up to 1m externally and 0.3m internally. At the northern corner is a flat-topped sub-circular mound 1.2m high with a summit area c 15m in diameter which may represent the remains of a viewing platform or tower. Geophysical survey in 2008 demonstrated the presence of a ditch on all sides except around the mound and a that a range of rectangular buildings lie within the fort including on the north west a probable furnace or kiln, with associated waste surviving as low earthworks on the slope to the north. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Has been suggested as an outpost guarding mountain road. Clearly a Roman site in origin but medieval use cannot, at the moment, be excluded and this does seem to have been accepted as a medieval motte by several authors. An unlikely place for a castle, certainly in the sense of a residence.

- 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 ReferenceSN820310
Latitude51.9655685424805
Longitude-3.71792006492615
Eastings282070
Northings231070
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 253 (listed as possible)
  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 42
  • Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p. 47 (slight)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 59

Journals

  • Jones, 1968, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies Vol. 23.1 p. 101-3
  • 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
  • St Joseph, J.K., 1958, Journal of Roman Studies Vol. 48 p. 95-6