Tomen yr Allt Motte, Llanfyllin

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameTomen yr Allt Motte, Llanfyllin
Alternative NamesBoyddon; Domen yr Allt; Bodyddon; Bodedon
Historic CountryMontgomeryshire
Modern AuthorityPowys
1974 AuthorityPowys
CommunityLlanfyllin

A ditched mound, c.41-44m in diameter and 9.5m high, with a summit area c.13m by 10m; there is a continuous counterscarp, doubled on the NE side, away from the natural slopes the work rests upon on the SW. A ditched bailey has been reported on the SE, but not confirmed. Although survived well into C13 never rebuilt in stone. Possibly mentioned as the castle of Bodedon destroyed in 1257. (Coflein)

Motte 9.5m high with a diameter of 10m at the top. The ditch around the motte is 3.4m deep and has a counter scarp bank. The bank has become flattened where it extends into a pasture field. No bailey apparent. Covered in dense undergrowth (Cadw 1997). CPAT visit found piece of daub plus remains of burnt layer. (CPAT 1978). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

Gatehouse Comments

Overgrown hilltop scarped into 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 ReferenceSJ126211
Latitude52.7803688049316
Longitude-3.29603004455566
Eastings312670
Northings321110
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 246 (listed)
  • Davis, Paul R., 2007, Castles of the Welsh Princes (Y Lolfa) p. 85
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p. 53
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 152
  • Davis, Paul R., 1988, Castles of the Welsh Princes (Swansea)
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 297
  • RCAHMW, 1911, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Montgomeryshire (HMSO) p. 95 no. 483 online copy

Journals

  • 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)
  • Spurgeon, C.J., 1966, ‘The castles of Montgomeryshire’ Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 59 p. 7 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
  • Richards, R., 1945-46, 'The mediaeval castles of north Montgomeryshire: a Topical survey, IV', Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 49 p. 171-6 online copy
  • Richards, R., 1942, 'The mediaeval castles of north Montgomeryshire: a topographical survey I' Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 47 p. 164-82 online copy
  • Williams, 1870, 'A history of the parish of Llanfyllin' Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 3 p. 58-9 online copy

Primary Sources

  • Brut y Tywysogion 1257 (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)
  • Williams (ab Ithel), John, (ed), 1860, Annales Cambriae (444 – 1288) (London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts)1257 online copy