Danylan Mound, Llyswen

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte), and also as a Questionable Palace (Other)

There are earthwork remains

NameDanylan Mound, Llyswen
Alternative Names
Historic CountryBrecknockshire
Modern AuthorityPowys
1974 AuthorityPowys
CommunityBronllys

A mound, 22m in diameter and 1.0-4.0m high, upon a spur-end: interpretations range from barrow, through motte, to ornamental tree-ring. (Coflein–ref. J.Wiles 19.08.02)

The monument comprises the remains of a earthen built round barrow, which probably date to the Bronze Age (c. 2300 - 800 BC). The barrow is circular in shape and has a rounded profile. It is located on a slope of hillside and is about 5 ft high with no visible ditch. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Rejected by King as a natural hillock. Scheduled as Prehistoric Round Barrow, otherwise recorded as mound of unknown or modern date. Remfry argues that this is a medieval welsh castle, a successor to a Dark Ages welsh llys site (recorded as a Iron Age hillfort.) This suggestion is not taken up by others but the location, near a spring and well, is not improbable although a site adjacent to the parish church might be more likely, although the link between church and llys is not as strong as the link between church and thengal burh in Saxon England. Presumably the early llys site was abandoned for the better water supply. The mound is quite small but the whole site is of a reasonable size. Is this a symbolic mound built in imitation of a Norman motte by a welsh lord but without a ditch? A site worthy of reconsideration and investigation but, although may well be medieval, probably can not be considered to be fortified and, therefore, not a castle.

- 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 ReferenceSO130376
Latitude52.030460357666
Longitude-3.26828002929688
Eastings313080
Northings237690
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Remfry, Paul, 1998, Castles of Breconshire (Logaston Press) p. 146-8
  • Remfry, Paul, 1995, Four Castles of the Middle Reaches of the River Wye, 1066 to 1282 (SCS Publishing Worcester)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 22 (reject)
  • Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales online copy (as tumulus)

Journals

  • Savory, H.N., 1954, 'Stone maceheads from Denbighshire and Glamorgan' Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies Vol. 15 p. 303-4

Other

  • pers corr Will Davies 11 August 2006
  • Martin, C.H.R. and Walters, M.J., 1993, Brecknock Borough Historic Settlements (CPAT report)