Dyserth Castle
Has been described as a Certain Masonry Castle
There are masonry footings remains
| Name | Dyserth Castle |
| Alternative Names | Maelan; Caer Vaelan; Dincolin; Castle of the Rock; De Rupe; Caerfaelan; Carregfaelan |
| Historic Country | Flintshire |
| Modern Authority | Denbighshire |
| 1974 Authority | Clwyd |
| Community | Dyserth |
Dyserth Castle was a grand stone-built castle constructed by Henry III from 1241 and eventually destroyed by Llywelyn ab Gruffudd in 1263, after seven years of blockade and siege. It is thought to have occupied the site of a later prehistoric style hillfort, occupied into the Roman period. The castle was sometimes known as Castell-y-Garrec or Caer Faelan. Most of the castle was destoyed by quarrying in the early twentieth century, leaving only the earthworks of the outer court and part of the ditch of the stone castle. Survey and excavations were undertaken prior to the castle's destruction, but there is no way of checking their accuracy. The site and the castle ruins are depicted prior to their destruction on early editions of the Ordnance Survey County series. The castle occupied the summit of a terrific crag overlooking the Vale of Clwyd. It had a small inner court about 30m by 15-20m with great polygonal towers, including a twin towered gatehouse. This stood within a larger court, perhaps 60-80m across, whose walls appear to have run about terraces on the rock. All this is now gone although large parts of an outer ditch and counterscarp remain. An outer court to the east, roughly 60m across, is defined by a ditch and counterscarp except on the south, where it rests on headlong crags. (Coflein)
The monument consists of the remains of a castle, dating to the medieval period. A castle is a defended residence or stronghold, built mainly of stone, in which the principal or sole defence comprises the walls and towers bounding the site. Some form of keep may have stood within the enclosure but these were not significant in defensive terms and served mainly to provide accommodation. The remains consist principally of an outer work, on the east side of the castle site
This has a defensive bank and ditch round the north and east side, with the entrance by way of a causeway over the ditch on the east side. To the west of the outer ward the castle site has been almost completely quarried away though part of the hill remains. (Scheduling Report)
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 Reference | SJ059799 |
| Latitude | 53.3078384399414 |
| Longitude | -3.41118001937866 |
| Eastings | 305980 |
| Northings | 379900 |
