Dolbedwin Motte

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameDolbedwin Motte
Alternative NamesTalybedwyn Tump; Dolybedwyn; Newchurch; Llys Ifor; Dolbedwyn
Historic CountryRadnorshire
Modern AuthorityPowys
1974 AuthorityPowys
CommunityGladestry

Tree covered, roughly circular, square topped, mound, some 38m diameter 6m high. Base mutilated on NW by digging. Encircling ditch noted by Williams in 1858 no longer visible. (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

A mound, 38m in diameter and 6.0m high, reputedly ditched in the 19th c., from which a Middle Bronze Age dirk came in 1835. (Coflein)

The monument comprises the remains of a possible motte, 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. This feature occupies a north-west facing spur above the confluence of the Cwmila Brook with a minor stream. It is roughly circular with a square top, and is c.38m in diameter and up to c.6m high. It was described as having an encircling ditch in 1858 but this is no longer in evidence. There has been some damage on the north-west. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

King writes may have been a barrow originally.

- 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 ReferenceSO205490
Latitude52.134391784668
Longitude-3.16208004951477
Eastings320559
Northings249089
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
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Books

  • Remfry, P., 2008, The Castles and History of Radnorshire (SCS Publishing)
  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 250 (listed)
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p. 61
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 181
  • Remfry, P., 1996, Castles of Radnorshire (Logaston Press) p. 135
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 410
  • RCAHMW, 1913, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Radnorshire (HMSO) p. 128 no. 537 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
  • Burgess, C.B., 1962, 'The Bronze Age in Radnorshire: a re-appraisal' Transactions of the Radnorshire Society Vol. 32 p. 7-24 online copy
  • Banks, R.W., 1875, 'On Prehistoric Remains in the Edwy Valley' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 30 p. 246-55 online copy
  • Williams, J., 1858, 'History of Radnorshire' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 13 p. 469-616 esp p. 523-4 online copy