Hafod y Bwch

Has been described as a Rejected Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameHafod y Bwch
Alternative Names
Historic CountryDenbighshire
Modern AuthorityWrexham
1974 AuthorityClwyd
CommunityEsclusham

Barrow lying North-East of Rhosllanerchrugog. The barrow is lightly covered by trees and bracken. An electricity pylon is situated at the foot of the barrow. (Coflein)

Tumulus stands on slightly rising ground, composed of soil with turf cover. Indications of slight moat around base. 9ft high and 80 yds circ. Signs of disturbance on NW side (Davies 1929, 121). Large mound 40m diam and 2.3m high on average. S side cut into and almost levelled by farm track (Cadw 1986). Extremely large mound appears composed of gravel and loam. Fence with lane on S side crosses S slope of mound and partly truncates it. Mound probably originally extended to S of lane. Mound covered in dense gorse and scrub. Slight scarp on W side may be due to ploughing, but may be inner edge of a ditch - a slight hollow (2.2m wide, 0.2m deep) is visible around much of N perimeter. Some erosion of mound by sheep. Mound is unusually large for a barrow. No other large mounds in general area, so unlikely to be glacial. Perhaps 40m diam and 2 to 2.5m high (CPAT 1999). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

Gatehouse Comments

Listed in 1963 as a motte but rejected in 1970 by Hogg and King as apparently a cairn or barrow. Scheduled as Round Barrow. The location, near a hafod, is not improbable for a motte and it is large for a barrow but does seem to be fully rejected.

- Philip Davis

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 ReferenceSJ308476
Latitude53.0219917297363
Longitude-3.03208994865417
Eastings330860
Northings347680
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Burnham, H., 1995, A Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales: Clwyd and Powys (Cadw, London)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 106
  • Davies, E., 1929, Prehistoric and Roman Remains of Denbighshire (Cardiff)
  • RCAHMW, 1914, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Denbighshire (HMSO) p. 56 no. 177 online copy

Journals

  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1970, 'Castles in Wales and the Marches (Additions and corrections to lists published in 1963 and 1967)' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 119 p. 119-124 (reject and map ref corrected to SJ310465)
  • 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

Other

  • Owen, W.G., 1992, The Wrexham Water Company Conjunctive Use Scheme: archaeological assessment of the proposed route (CPAT report)