Castell y Garreg, Gorslas

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are no visible remains

NameCastell y Garreg, Gorslas
Alternative NamesCastle of Lle Gareig; Luchewein; Lychewein; Caer Castell
Historic CountryCarmarthenshire
Modern AuthorityCarmarthenshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityGorslas

Motte? or hillfort? quarried away before 1906 The castle of Lle Gareig is noted by Leland as standing upon a hill between the two Gwendraeth rivers. Lloyd includes it in his discussion of mottes and places it at Castell y Garreg. On this farm the RCAHM note the field name Cae'r Castell The showing of a stone castle on the Saxton map be an error - Carreg Cennen is not shown at the correct position and may have been translocated to here. Delaney and visitor. 1985. (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER)

Lle Careig in Lattin Palatinas Cragus. The Castle of Lie Careig that hathe bene so famous standing upon a hy rok stepid on every syde, from whens the great rise of Wales derivith, as from the Princis, his lyne, is apon the hill that standithe betwixt the 2. Vendraiths. It is now but ruine, and no very greate distaunce from it is a nothar stepe rok caullyd Craig Dinas, whereby in the bottom some say that ther hathe bene a towne. And that there hathe bene a bridge bitwyxt these 2. rokks. This brige for stepenes was nevar archid with stone. A lesse lykelyhode ther is that it was of tymbar, the distaunce of the 2. rokks be suche. And there is also a hole by the heade of Wendraith Vehan, where men use to entre in, and there they say be spatius waulks, and that thens gouithe one way undar the ground to Worme hedde, and a nother to Cair Kennen' Castle a 3. miles and more into the land. (Leland)

Gatehouse Comments

A castle called Lychewein is identified in the early C13. Castle y Garreg, Gorlais is identified as that castle by Lloyd but Hogg and King write no earthwork is recorded there and identify Lychewein as Castell y Rhingyll. Much of the area has been intensively quarried but it does seem strange that such a castle of note, as regarded by Leland, should be so lost from record and folklore.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSN572158
Latitude51.8223991394043
Longitude-4.07271003723145
Eastings257250
Northings215800
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 30
  • 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. 60
  • Richard, A.J., 1935, in Lloyd, J.E. (ed), History of Carmathenshire (Cardiff) Vol. 1 p. 161, 271
  • RCAHMW, 1917, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Carmarthenshire (HMSO) p. 71 no. 198 online copy
  • Lloyd, J.E., 1912, History of Wales (London) Vol. 2 p. 621-2 online copy

Antiquarian

  • Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1910, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (Bell and Sons; London) Vol. 4 p. 178 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 (possible)

Primary Sources

  • Williams (ab Ithel), John, (ed), 1860, Annales Cambriae (444 – 1288) (London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts)s.a. 1205, 1208 online copy
  • Brut y Tywysogion 1209 (Several transcriptions and translations exist the best being Jones, T., 1952, Brut Y Twysogion (University of Wales, History and Law series 11)–based on the Peniarth MS 20 version. There is a flawed translation Williams ab Ithel, John, 1860, Brut Y Twysogion or The Chronicle of the Princes (Rolls Series) online copy)

Other

  • Delaney, C.J., 1989 , re Castell-y-Carreg, and copy of a a letter from Mr. N.G.Evans