Caer Licyn

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Ringwork)

There are earthwork remains

NameCaer Licyn
Alternative NamesKemeys Inferior; Gaer Licyn
Historic CountryMonmouthshire
Modern AuthorityNewport
1974 AuthorityGwent
CommunityLangstone

A subrectangular/oval enclosure, c.90m NE-SW by 82m, set upon the summit of a steep ridge above the Usk valley, defined by a scarp and ditch, having an unditched mound, 25m in diameter and 2.0-3.0m high, set towards its NW side. (Coflein)

No visible ditch around motte which is composed of stone & earth & has a slightly rounded top. There is no evidence of any masonry or structure upon the motte. (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period, located on the top of the Wentwood ridge overlooking the coastal plain to the SE and the Usk valley to the NW. The motte comprises a circular mound, 25m in diameter and 2m high with steep sides and a summit 7m in diameter. A rough track cuts across the site immediately to the NW of the motte. The large bailey (c. 3 acres) surrounds the motte, and consists of a flat, roughly circular area defined by a bank. On the NE, N and NW sides there is an external flat bottomed ditch, 4m wide and up to 1m deep, with a low external bank, 1.5m high. There is no ditch visible on the S side. There is some debate about whether the site is indeed medieval in origin, and suggestions have been made that it is in fact a prehistoric enclosure. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Scheduled as a motte. Situated on hill top of steepsided ridge, the position is more like that of an Iron Age hill fort but this possibility is, significantly, not mentioned in the CARN records. King rejected this site but Prior writes of this as a certain motte. Phillips, who has surveyed the site, also rejects this as medieval favouring prehistoric.

- 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 ReferenceST389928
Latitude51.6309509277344
Longitude-2.88284993171692
Eastings338980
Northings192830
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Copyright John Lord and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons license.View full Sized Image
Copyright John Lord and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons license.View full Sized Image
Copyright John Lord and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons license.View full Sized Image

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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 256 (listed as possible)
  • Prior, Stuart, 2006, A Few Well-Positioned Castles: The Norman Art of War (Tempus) p. 110-164
  • Phillips, Neil, 2006, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (British Archaeological Reports) p. 130-1 (reject)
  • Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p. 74 (slight)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 290 (reject)
  • Rees, Wm, 1932, Map of South Wales and the Border in the 14th century (Ordnance Survey) (A handbook to the map was published in 1933)

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 (reject)

Other

  • Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (PhD Thesis University of Sheffield) Download