Twmpath Motte, Rhiwbina

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameTwmpath Motte, Rhiwbina
Alternative NamesCaer Cynwrig
Historic CountryGlamorgan
Modern AuthorityCardiff
1974 AuthoritySouth Glamorgan
CommunityRhiwbina

A ditched mound, 40m in diameter and 6.4m high, with a summit diameter of 15m. (Coflein)

Twmpath is a motte standing on a spur overlooking a stream valley to W. It measures 40m in diameter, and about 5m in height, with a flat top some 15m in diameter. The surrounding ditch is from 6 to 10m wide and has a maximum depth of 1m. (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument comprises the remains of a 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. The motte is large and stands in a grass field on the edge of a built up area. It measures about 6m high with steep sides. The top is 16m in diameter, grass covered, and flat, with a slight depression on the south aide. In places the edge of the top has been eroded, especially on the west, where there is a large eroded swathe from the top to bottom. There are a few small holes dug in the top. The motte is surrounded by a ditch, which varies in depth and width: on the east side it is 4 - 5m wide, with an outer depth of c. 1.2m. On the west side it is 4m wide and c. 1m deep, and on the north and south it is shallower and very gently sloping. (Scheduling Report)

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 ReferenceST153822
Latitude51.5323295593262
Longitude-3.22136998176575
Eastings315370
Northings182200
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Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image

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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 241 (listed)
  • < >RCAHMW, 1991, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan Vol. 3 Part 1a: The Early Castles (London: HMSO) < > MO8 p. 68-70
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 171
  • Hague, D.B., 1971, in Pugh, T.B. (ed), Glamorgan County History Vol. 3 The Middle Ages (Cardiff) p. 445
  • Randall, Henry John, 1961, The Vale of Glamorgan, Studies in Landscape and History (Newport: R.H.Johns Ltd) p. 77

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
  • 1849, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 4 p. 301, 317-8 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Rickard, John, 2002, The Castle Community. The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272-1422 (Boydell Press) (lists sources for 1272-1422) p. 215 (I'm not convinced that these citations refer to this motte.)