Cilsant

Has been described as a Questionable Fortified Manor House

There are no visible remains

NameCilsant
Alternative Names
Historic CountryCarmarthenshire
Modern AuthorityCarmarthenshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityLlanwinio

Stone foundations to the east of the present house (PRN 47113). Home of one of the oldest West Wales families. The first known member of the family was Lwch Llawen Fawr, described as Lord of Cilsant. A carucate of land on the west side of the "Castle of Rees ap Bledri" was granted to St.John's Hospitallers of Slebech, confirming the existence of Cilsant as a fortified dwelling c1150-76. Let to farming tenants in 1774, by 1861 most of the "ancient mansion" had been pulled down. The present farmhouse retains "antique features". (F. Jones 1987). It is recorded that there are some "stone foundations to the east of the present house" at Cilsant, shown on the Rees map of 14th century South Wales and identified during a site visit by Cambria Archaeology in 1984. However no evidence of any stone foundations to the east of the house (PRN 47113) were seen during the site visit. (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER)

Gatehouse Comments

The term 'castle' had a diverse set of meanings in medieval documents but may well have been a fortified residence in this context although it may also have been a reference to the nearby Iron Age enclosure of Pen Gaer Fach.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSN266239
Latitude51.8861808776855
Longitude-4.51840019226074
Eastings226600
Northings223900
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. 124
  • Jones, F., 1987, Historic Carmarthenshire Homes
  • Rees, Wm, 1932, Map of South Wales and the Border in the 14th century (Ordnance Survey) (A handbook to the map was published in 1933)