Maesmor Hall Castle Mound, Llangwm

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameMaesmor Hall Castle Mound, Llangwm
Alternative NamesTomen Maesmor; Y Domen; Maerdy; Llandderfel
Historic CountryDenbighshire
Modern AuthorityConwy
1974 AuthorityClwyd
CommunityLlangwm

A flat-topped oval mound, 43m WNW-ESE by 29m & up to c.3.0m high; formerly regarded as a castle mound, a similar mound lies c.100m to the SE. (OS).

Portrayed as a garden feature by OS County series (Denbigh. XXXII.11 1889), having a path running about its c.26m by 14m oval summit.

Associated with/part of: Maesmor Hall gardens (Nprn266443). (Coflein)

A long squat mound no resemblance to a motte. No ditch no bailey. Probably a natural mound altered to form part of a garden mound 35m long, 12m wide, max 3m high. Considered a possible motte by Spurgeon (Manley, J, Grenter, S & Gale, F, 1991, pp171). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

An oval mound 35m long, aligned WNW - ESE, and 12m wide located 100m WSW of Maesmor Hall. It is set within the grounds of the hall c. 70m SW of the present course of the Afon Ceirw. There are signs that it was surrounded by a ditch, and there may have been a bailey, but its location has led to the disappearance of both of those features. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

In 1963 Hogg and King recorded this as a certain motte, in 1970 they moved it to their possible list (meaning doubtful) with the description 'oval, with gradual slope (in information of O.E. Craster). Described by King 1983, as 'Possible oval motte, not certainly medieval'. Does now seem to usually rejected although, as with a number of other prospect mounds in the grounds of high status houses, might just be a much adapted motte.

- 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 ReferenceSJ012445
Latitude52.9895286560059
Longitude-3.47207999229431
Eastings301280
Northings344580
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 237 (listed)
  • Manley, J., Grenter, S. and Gale, F., 1991, The Archaeology of Clwyd
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 105
  • RCAHMW, 1914, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Denbighshire (HMSO) p. 126 no. 442 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 (possible)
  • 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