Castell Llanddeiniolen
Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)
There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains
| Name | Castell Llanddeiniolen |
| Alternative Names | Tymawr |
| Historic Country | Caernarfonshire |
| Modern Authority | Gwynedd |
| 1974 Authority | Gwynedd |
| Community | Llanddeiniolen |
Castell, a hill of glacial drift 25-30ft high above road which skirts its N side. The top is oval, c.90ft by 110ft. The N and NW slopes are steep; the E and S area more gentle and have been scarped to form a ditch and outer bank, which are faint where they cross the easiest line of approach on the SE. On the NE a gravel pit has encroached nearly to the summit of the mound (RCAHMW). Mound known as 'Castell' could be largely artificial but the natural hill has clearly been scarped in places to take full advantage of the situation. Around most of the S half there is a marked 'terrace' in the slope of the mound which would seem to represent either a stepped construction or more probably an external bank perhaps with a ditch also. Although generally described as a motte it does not seem entirely typical bearing some similarity to Irish raised raths and small Iron Age forts. There must therefore be some doubt about designation. (Gwynedd Archaeological Trust HER)
A quarry was encroached substantially on the NW side revealing that the mound is largely comprised of coarse sand and gravel which, in this part appear natural. Although generally described as a motte it does not seem entirely typical, bearing some similarity to Irish raised raths and small Iron Age forts. There must therefore be some doubt about the site type/period/form designation given as Medieval/Norman. (Gwynedd Archaeological Trust HER ref.–King, 1983)
An intriguing site which resembles a mediaeval ringwork, although perhaps prehistoric in origin. Traces of defences are very faint, and only on the S side. Here, there is some stone at the edge of the relatively level top of the hill, and a distinct, if slight, terrace a little further down, again with some stone in the edge. The track which runs past the east side of the site is sunken, and a retaining wall over 1 m high forms the west side. This may be the line of a ditch protecting the site on the accessible east side
The base of a more recent field wall runs round the south and west sides of the site. (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 Reference | SH569655 |
| Latitude | 53.1677513122559 |
| Longitude | -4.14117002487183 |
| Eastings | 256950 |
| Northings | 365540 |
