Crege Castle

Has been described as a Questionable Masonry Castle, and also as a Questionable Fortified Manor House

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameCrege Castle
Alternative NamesCraige; Creigiau
Historic CountryGlamorgan
Modern AuthorityCardiff
1974 AuthorityMid Glamorgan
CommunityPentyrch

In the 1530s, Leland recorded 'a place 2 miles from Llantrisant by South Est caullid Crege Castelle on the top of an hille, wher som tokens of Buildings yet remayne' adding later that Castellymynach was two miles south of Llantrisant and a quarter of a mile from Crege Castle. Castell y Mynach is at ST08218115. Spurgeon writes "The castle alluded to... may be identified as the anomalous stony earthwork recently discovered to the north of Creigiau, which is the remains of a collapsed medieval watch tower."

The remains of this earthwork may denote the last vestiges of a medieval frontier installation. Its curious dished form might suggest a beacon pit, but its partial quadrangular bank might more probably indicate the last remnants of a former watch tower. The last hypothesis is enhanced by the clear traces of ancient quarrying for Pennant sandstone on the N. side of the site, and by the early accounts of a stone 'castle' in the vicinity. (Coflein)

Gatehouse Comments

Spurgeon suggestion of this site is reasonable but not certain. The current remains seem to be pretty scant and even in Leland's time this was ruinous. The actual form and function of this building is not at all clear, but the name and location might suggest a small defensible house, possibly a hunting lodge. The poor quality of remains might well suggest very low quality mortar used or even clay bonded masonry suggesting this was a relatively modest house although with some resemblance to a castle.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceST084825
Latitude51.5341491699219
Longitude-3.32488989830017
Eastings308400
Northings182520
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 173

Antiquarian

  • Merrick, R. (James, B.L. (ed)), 1983, Morganiae Archaiographia: A Book of the Antiquites of Glamorgan (Barry Island) p. 76, 138 (originally published 1578)
  • Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1906, Leland's Itinerary in Wales  (Bell and Sons; London) p. 21 honline copy

Journals

  • Spurgeon, C.J. with Roberts, D.J. and Thomas, H.J., 1999, 'Supposed Castles in Glamorgan; A review' Archaeology in Wales Vol. 39 27-40