Graig Wood, Caerleon

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameGraig Wood, Caerleon
Alternative NamesCaerllion; Llantarnam; Graig-yr-Eurych; Colstar; Craig Wood
Historic CountryMonmouthshire
Modern AuthorityNewport
1974 AuthorityGwent
CommunityCaerleon

An oval mound, c.36m E-w by 24m and 4.7m high, having a summit area of 19m by 12m. Resting on steep slopes above the Afon Lwyd, the mound is ditched and counterscarped elsewhere. (Coflein)

Close to the Dowlais Brook, just East of the grounds of Llantarnam Abbey, the mound lies at the top of a steep slope down to the brook on its North side. It is a large oval tree covered mound with steep sides and a flat top. It is c4m high and the top measures 13 x 22m. (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and ditch, dating to the medieval period (c. 1066 -1540 AD). The motte lies at the top of a steep slope down to the valley of the Dowlais Brook. It is a large oval tree covered mound with steep sides and a flat top. It is 4m high, and the top measures 13m by 22m. On the N side there is a narrow flat berm before the ground drops very steeply to the valley floor, where there is a car breakers' yard. On the W side there is a ditch 2m wide and 1m deep. This continues round to the S side where it becomes shallower - 0.3m deep. Towards the E end on this side the outer edge of the ditch has been artificially cut to form a near vertical slope and continues round the E side as a garden wall. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Badly damaged.

- 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 ReferenceST318924
Latitude51.6270217895508
Longitude-2.98535990715027
Eastings331890
Northings192490
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Copyright Philip Halling 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. 243 (listed)
  • 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. 167-8
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 281

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

Other

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