Castell Cossan

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameCastell Cossan
Alternative NamesEglwys Fair a Churig; Castell Coshan; Parc Castell
Historic CountryCarmarthenshire
Modern AuthorityCarmarthenshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityLlanboidy

A sub-circular mound, about 14m in diameter and 3.0m high, set within a roughly 32m diameter ditch. (source Os495card; SN22NW12) Traces of rectilinear enclosures/features to the north-west may be associated with apparently modern, relict field boundaries. (Coflein as U mound)

Included by CADW under SAM Cm134 as a round barrow. (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER as motte)

Gatehouse Comments

Eroded mound. Marked as Motte on OS map. Hill top position near crossroads, isolated from settlement, traces of wide silted ditch. Close to several other mounds identified as round barrows. The crossroads is not strategic and from the photo by Dave Evans (geograph.org.uk), which shows a small, barrow sized mound, there should be some doubt about this site. However the castell name comes from some source and it is possible for barrows to be reused as mottes. The original depth of the 'wide silted ditch' may help resolve the question.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSN202267
Latitude51.9104499816895
Longitude-4.6147198677063
Eastings220240
Northings226780
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Evans 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. 253 (listed as possible)
  • 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. 55
  • RCAHMW, 1917, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Carmarthenshire (HMSO) p. 41-2 no. 136 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