Castell Caer Wedros

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameCastell Caer Wedros
Alternative NamesCaerwedros; Gaer Odris; Llwyn Davydd Castell; Castell Llwyndafydd; Castell Meib Wynion; Mab Wynion
Historic CountryCardiganshire
Modern AuthorityCeredigion
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityLlandysiliogogo

Castell Caerwedros is an earthwork castle, comprising an earthen mound, fosse and a counterscarp bank of considerable height, set upon a level shelf, or spur, the ground falling away into a shallow valley on the south & south-west. It is identified as a castle and recorded as being destroyed in 1137: the mount, apparently mutilated on the north, is about 24m in diameter & up to 4.0m high, having a summit area in the region of 14.5m across; the counterscarp is most prominent about the south & south-east, where there are traces of further works, possibly an outer ditch, and it is possible that a bailey occupied the level ground to the north, between the mound and the current road. (Coflein)

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. The motte at Castell Caer Wedros is c.5m high and c.12m in diameter across the top, and is surrounded by a rock cut ditch and an outer bank c.10m wide which stands c.2.6m to c.3.3m high above the ditch. The outer bank survives well on the west, south and east, but is largely lost in gardens on the north. The ground falls away on the west and south, and there are slight traces of a further, outer, ditch on the south-east. The castle is recorded as an English foundation which was destroyed in 1137. (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 ReferenceSN376557
Latitude52.1762313842773
Longitude-4.37614011764526
Eastings237620
Northings255760
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 234 (listed)
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 41
  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 28
  • 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. 44
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 127
  • Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p. 283 online copy
  • Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales online copy [online copy > http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47847#s16]

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
  • King, D.J.C., 1956, 'The Castles of Cardiganshire' Ceredigion Vol. 3 p. 59-60 no. 14 online copy

Primary Sources

  • William ab Ithel (ed), 1860, Brut y Tywysogion Jesus MS 111 (Red Book of Hergest) 1135 online copy [Scan of original manuscript > http://image.ox.ac.uk/show?collection=jesus&manuscript=ms111]