Castell Pen yr Allt

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

There are masonry footings remains

NameCastell Pen yr Allt
Alternative NamesLlantood; Castell yr Allt; Castell Penallt
Historic CountryPembrokeshire
Modern AuthorityPembrokeshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityCilgerran

Earthworks thought to represent the remains of a medieval castle. These include a banked and ditched, generally polygonal enclosure, about 52m north-west to south-east by 50m, tapering to about 30m on the north-west. It rests on steep natural slopes on the south-east, with its ditches springing from natural declivities. Where the enclosure faces rising ground, to the north-west, the ramparts are now greatly degraded but are thought to have been doubled, whilst on the south-east the ditch is represented by a ledge above the natural slopes. Set rather off centre in the southern part of the enclosure is a ditchless steep-sided sub-circular mound, some 16-20m across & 2.4m high, having a summit area about 9.0m in diameter. It is possible that this mound represents the remains of a freestanding circular masonry tower. (Coflein)

A fine and well-preserved mount-and-bailey earthwork standing 300 yards north-east of the parish church. The motte has a height of some 8 feet, and a summit diameter of 30 feet. The bailey, a circular plateau of 8 feet in height, is placed to the north of the mound; it is surrounded by a rampart and formidable ditch, averaging 30 feet from the crest to the floor. The ditch is 10 feet wide; it was scarped and counterscarped. To the south the ground falls steeply to a strong spring of water. In 1864 it was stated by a neighbouring vicar that he remembered remains of an old stone tower about 30 feet in diameter on the top of the mound. At present the summit displays no signs of buildings. (RCAHMW)

Gatehouse Comments

Although described as a motte and bailey by the RCAHMW and some others this is a ringwork with a collapsed, probably round, tower.

- 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 ReferenceSN157420
Latitude52.0459403991699
Longitude-4.68765020370483
Eastings215780
Northings242030
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 248 (listed)
  • Hull, Lise, 2005, Castles and Bishops Palaces of Pembrokeshire (Logaston Press) p. 71
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 178
  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 39-40
  • Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p. 55
  • Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p. 87 (slight)
  • Miles, Dillwyn, 1979 (Revised 1988), Castles of Pembrokeshire (Pembrokeshire Coast National Park) p. 5-7
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus)
  • Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) Vol. 2 p. 373
  • RCAHMW, 1925, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Pembrokeshire (HMSO) p. 180 no. 542 online copy

Journals

  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132
  • King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol. 3 p. 90-127
  • 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
  • King, D.J.C., 1962, 'The Castles of Pembrokeshire' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 119 p. 313-6 online copy
  • Vincent, H.J., 1864, 'Caerau in the Parish of St Dogmells' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 19 p. 313-4 online copy