Pen y Castell, Llanidloes

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NamePen y Castell, Llanidloes
Alternative Names
Historic CountryMontgomeryshire
Modern AuthorityPowys
1974 AuthorityPowys
CommunityLlanidloes Without

Motte and bailey castle occupying the summit of a hill. The summit motte, 2.5m to 3.6m high, is ditched about, with additional ditches and scarps to the W, away from the bailey; the summit is enclosed by a bank. The bailey is banked and ditched. It is suggested that the castle occupies the site of an IA defended enclosure. (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. Pen y Castell is placed on a ridge trackway and is of the ring motte type. The entrance was probably in the centre where there is now a depression 20yds wide. On the east side the bank is 6ft high. There is a slight depression in the mound rampart opposite the bailey. (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 ReferenceSN981885
Latitude52.4853706359863
Longitude-3.50129008293152
Eastings298160
Northings288590
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 246 (listed)
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p. 47
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 152
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 298
  • Hogg, A.H.A., 1979, British Hillforts: an index (BAR, Oxford)
  • Spurgeon, C.J., 1972, 'Enclosures of Iron Age Type in the upper Severn Basin' In Burgess, C. and Lynch, F., Prehistoric Man In Wales and the West p. 321-44. (Adams & Dart; Bath)
  • RCAHMW, 1911, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Montgomeryshire (HMSO) p. 117 no. 596 online copy

Journals

  • King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol. 3 p. 90-127
  • Spurgeon, C.J., 1966, ‘The castles of Montgomeryshire’ Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 59 p. 27-8 online copy
  • 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
  • O'Neil, B.H.St J., 1934, ‘The castle and borough of Llandiloes’ Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 43 p. 54 online copy
  • Hamer, E., 1872, Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 5 p. 47-8
  • Hamer, E., 1868, 'Ancient Arwystli: Its earthworks and other ancient remains' Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 1 p. 215-6 online copy