Castell Mawr, Llanboidy

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains

NameCastell Mawr, Llanboidy
Alternative Names
Historic CountryCarmarthenshire
Modern AuthorityCarmarthenshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityLlanboidy

Castell Mawr, Llanboidy, comprises earthworks of a medieval motte and bailey castle, laid out along the crest of a north-west to south-east ridge rising above a stream confluence. The ditched motte is a subcircular steep-sided mound, 36m in diameter and rising some 2.3m to a summit area 14.5-16m across, and has a subrectangular court, or bailey, some 46m north-south by 30m, defined by scarps, attached on the west. (Coflein)

Castell mawr is a well-preserved motte and bailey. The motte stands 2.6m high with a summit diameter of 15m; there is some slight animal erosion around the top. The surrounding ditch is best preserved on the S East (width 6.6m depth 0.8m) and N west sides. The bailey extends to the N west of the motte, with the bank up to 1m in height falling off to natural sloping ground. ER Evans 1984 (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period. A motte and bailey castle comprises a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil or stone (the motte) surrounded by, or adjacent to, one or more embanked enclosures (the bailey). Both may be surrounded by wet or dry ditches and could be further strengthened with palisades, revetments, and/or a tower on top of the motte. The motte is grass covered and measures 15ft high and 60ft in diameter across the top. The bailey, which is nearly rectangular, is on the west and stretches 40 yds to the west of the motte. The bailey bank has a maximum height of 3ft above the outside ground but is level with the interior. (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 ReferenceSN219231
Latitude51.8780097961426
Longitude-4.58873987197876
Eastings221910
Northings223110
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 236 (listed)
  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 35
  • Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p. 46 (slight)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 56
  • Richard, A.J., 1935, in Lloyd, J.E. (ed), History of Carmathenshire (Cardiff) Vol. 1 p. 273
  • 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)
  • RCAHMW, 1917, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Carmarthenshire (HMSO) p. 75 no. 218 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