Llys Gwenllian castle

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameLlys Gwenllian castle
Alternative NamesLlanrhaiadr yn Cinmerch
Historic CountryDenbighshire
Modern AuthorityDenbighshire
1974 AuthorityClwyd
CommunityDenbigh

Motte and bailey castle sited in the fork at the junction of 2 streams. The bailey is sub-rectangular with rounded corners and was perhaps originally 80m sw-ne x 60m nw-se. The motte at the west of the bailey is 6.5m high, 16m in diameter, surrounded by a shallow moat, and thought to have been built in the 13th century.

A moat surrounds the whole mound and bailey. It is almost complete along the nw side and averages 4m wide at the bottom. It has 0.9m high. a slight counterscarp bank. (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

A roughly rectangular enclosure, c.75m by 54m, with a possibly ditched, rather polygonal motte, 24-25m in diameter and 6.5m high, at its SW end. The whole is defined by a ditch, with counterscarps on the NW and SW sides, and possible outworks on the NE; c.140m by 90m overall and obscured by farm buildings. Associated with a daughter of Llewelyn ap Iorwerth. (Coflein)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period. A motte and bailey castle comprises a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil or stone (the motte) surrounded by, or adjacent to, one or more embanked enclosures (the bailey). Both may be surrounded by wet or dry ditches and could be further strengthened with palisades, revetments, and/or a tower on top of the motte. Llys Gwenllian consists of a roughly rectangular enclosure, c.75m by 54m, with a possibly ditched, rather polygonal motte, 24-25m in diameter and 6.5m high, at its SW end. The whole is defined by a ditch, with counterscarps on the NW and SW sides, and possible outworks on the NE; c.140m by 90m overall and obscured by farm buildings. The site is associated with a daughter of Llewelyn ap Iorwerth. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Rectangular bailey with low moated mound. Overlooks a steep drop to the Afon Ystrad. Farm buildings have badly mutilated its low motte and rectangular bailey, making the layout hard to observe. Has been suggested as an unlikely precursor to Denbigh.

- 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 ReferenceSJ056644
Latitude53.1682014465332
Longitude-3.41310000419617
Eastings305640
Northings364400
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 237 (listed)
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 69
  • Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p. 76
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 104
  • RCAHMW, 1914, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Denbighshire (HMSO) p. 135-6 no. 483 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