Hughs Castle, Llandeilo Talybont

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameHughs Castle, Llandeilo Talybont
Alternative NamesTal y Bont; Castell Du; Castle Hu; Banc y Rhyfel; Talybonet in Gower; Goher; Talband
Historic CountryGlamorgan
Modern AuthoritySwansea
1974 AuthorityWest Glamorgan
CommunityGrovesend

Talybont Castle is a circular, ditched, flat-topped mound, c.32-5m in diameter, the counterscarp of which extends to enclose an irregular area, c.50m E-W by 40m, to the S. Erosion to the motte revealed it to have been based on a natural mound. Royal Commission aerial photography in drought summers has clearly revealed the plough-levelled ditches of the former bailey, with an obvious gateway, as well as wider-spreading ditches possibly representative of outer defences or annexes. (Coflein–T. Driver, RCAHMW, 17th July 2008)

Motte and bailey. Damage revealed a section which showed the motte had been formed by heaping gravel from the ditch upon a natural knoll formed of pebbles and gravel. Three post-holes at S end, southenmost one yielded two sherds of probably C13th date. Post-holes possibly for a bridge to the motte or a palisade. (GGAT)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and ditch dating to the medieval period (c. 1066 -1540 AD). A motte is a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil and/or stone, usually surrounded by either a wet or dry ditch, and surmounted by a tower constructed of timber or stone. The motte, 7m high x 13.5 m in diameter, is surrounded by a slight ditch, which is best preserved on the northern side. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

May be the 'castle in Gower' mentioned in 1116 and 1214.

- 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 ReferenceSN586026
Latitude51.7048683166504
Longitude-4.04645013809204
Eastings258680
Northings202670
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 241 (listed)
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 111
  • < >RCAHMW, 1991, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan Vol. 3 Part 1a: The Early Castles (London: HMSO) < > MO6 p. 64-6
  • Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p. 72
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 165, 171
  • Davis, Paul R., 1983, Castles of Glamorgan (Alun Books) p. 46
  • Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p. 362
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 228
  • Hague, D.B., 1971, in Pugh, T.B. (ed), Glamorgan County History Vol. 3 The Middle Ages (Cardiff) p. 442
  • Grenfell, Harold E. and Morris, Bernard, 1970 (Revised 1985) The Castles of Gower (Merthyr Tydfil) p. 2
  • Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p. 298 online copy
  • Morgan, W. Ll., 1899, Antiquarian Survey of East Gower (London) p. 5-8

Journals

  • Kenyon, John R., 1996, 'Fluctuating Frontiers: Normanno-Welsh Castle Warfare c. 1075 to 1240' Château Gaillard Vol. 17 p. 119-126
  • Spurgeon, C.J. and Thomas, H.J.,1980, 'Talybont Castle, Llandeilo Talybont' Archaeology in Wales Vol. 20 p. 42
  • Spurgeon, C.J. and Thomas, H.J., 1978, 'Medieval Glamorgan' Morgannwg Vol. 22 p. 18-19 online copy
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132 (survived into C13 without being rebuilt in stone)
  • 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
  • Brown, R, Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol. 74 p. 249-280 (Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 90-121) view online copy (subscription required)

Primary Sources

  • Brut y Tywysogion 1116 (Several transcriptions and translations exist the best being Jones, T., 1952, Brut Y Twysogion (University of Wales, History and Law series 11)–based on the Peniarth MS 20 version. There is a flawed translation Williams ab Ithel, John, 1860, Brut Y Twysogion or The Chronicle of the Princes (Rolls Series) online copy)
  • Hardy, T.D. (ed), 1835, Rotuli litterarm patentium in Turri londinensi asservati (Record Commission) p. 109b online copy
  • Clark, G.N., 1910 (2edn), Cartae et alia Munimenta quae ad Glamorgancia pertinent (Cardiff) Vol. 4 p. 1391 (1396 as Talband) online copy

Other

  • Ward, A., 1972, M4 Survey (Carmarthen Museum) p. 3