Tre Castle, Raglan

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameTre Castle, Raglan
Alternative NamesLlangovan; Pen y Clawdd; Trecastle
Historic CountryMonmouthshire
Modern AuthorityMonmouthshire
1974 AuthorityGwent
CommunityRaglan

A motte and bailey castle, where an oval motte, c.28m by 40m and 6.0m high and a strongly embanked bailey to the S are surrounded by a moat, c95m by 80m overall. The castle bailey is occupied by the buildings of Tre-castle farm. (Coflein)

'this earthwork was a later construction probably motivated by land tenure and agricultural holding. It is, however, also likely that the present surviving ruin is not representative of its original construction shape and size. If that is the case, then judging by the size of the bailey ditch and the potential for size increase at the motte, the site could be an early construction motte and bailey.' (Phillips)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period. The site is located within Trecastle Farm, with the bailey largely built over by farm buildings. The motte is a large steep-sided mound, 6m high, with a flat top that is 15m in diameter. On the N side there is a steep sided ditch, 3m wide and 2.5m deep, which peters out at the W and E sides. On the S side the base of the motte has been truncated by a modern retaining wall. To the S of the motte, separated from it by buildings and a drive, is a substantial bank 1m high on the N side and 3m high on the S side, which forms part of the original bailey defences. (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 ReferenceSO451070
Latitude51.7593307495117
Longitude-2.79581999778748
Eastings345150
Northings207000
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 244 (listed)
  • Prior, Stuart, 2006, A Few Well-Positioned Castles: The Norman Art of War (Tempus) p. 110-164
  • Phillips, Neil, 2006, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (British Archaeological Reports) p. 238-9 (where given map ref is incorrect)
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 146
  • Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p. 74 (slight)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 285
  • Bradney, J.A., 1904-33, History of Monmouthshire Vol. 2 p. 201

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

Other

  • Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (PhD Thesis University of Sheffield) Download