Tomen y Maerdy Motte

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameTomen y Maerdy Motte
Alternative NamesGlantanat Isaf; Llanrhaiadr ym Mochnant; Tomen y Faerdre
Historic CountryDenbighshire
Modern AuthorityPowys
1974 AuthorityClwyd
CommunityLlangedwyn

A ditched mound, c.42-47m in diameter and 8.3m high, possibly counterscarped. A subsidiary enclosure noted to the SW has not been confirmed. Incorporated in a C19 landscaping scheme. (Coflein)

Well preserved motte with fragments of an encircling rock-cut ditch. 10.6m high the summit is 13m in diam the ditch 2m deep. Ground to SW is very disturbed and no bailey could be traced there. Scheduled area reduced 21/10/92. Considered by Spurgeon as originally having a bailey (Manley, J, Grenter, S & Gale, F, 1991). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and ditch, 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. Tomen y Faerdre is a well-preserved motte with fragments of an encircling rock-cut ditch. The motte is approximately 10.6m high, and the summit approximately 13m in diameter. The ditch is 2m deep maximum. (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 ReferenceSJ148239
Latitude52.8065414428711
Longitude-3.26435995101929
Eastings314880
Northings323960
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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 237 (listed)
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 69
  • Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p. 87 (slight)
  • Manley, J., Grenter, S. and Gale, F., 1991, The Archaeology of Clwyd
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 104
  • RCAHMW, 1914, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Denbighshire (HMSO) p. 137 no. 490 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
  • Richards, R., 1948, 'Tomen y Maerdy' Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 50 p. 45-8 online copy
  • Richards, R., 1942, 'The mediaeval castles of north Montgomeryshire: a topographical survey I' Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 47 p. 164-82 online copy
  • Hancock, 1871, Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 4 p. 238