Llangwathen Motte

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameLlangwathen Motte
Alternative Names
Historic CountryPembrokeshire
Modern AuthorityPembrokeshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityLampeter Velfrey

Earthworks thought to represent a medieval castle mound: an oval/subrectangular flat-topped mound, c.26m NE-SW by 24m, occupied by an enclosed ornamental tree-clump. (Coflein)

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 Llangwathan motte stands in a low lying, rather boggy position by the Afon Marlais and measures 20m in diameter by 3m high. The surviving ditch is preserved on all sides. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Small motte by farm relatively recently identified as such. The isolated location being the likely reason it was previously overlooked. As with other such small isolated mottes the function of the mound may well have been to show the knightly status of the tenant in the adjacent farmhouse who will owed castle guard to one of the major Pembrokeshire Castles (? Narberth).

- 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 ReferenceSN134153
Latitude51.8050689697266
Longitude-4.70776987075806
Eastings213420
Northings215330
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 248 (listed)
  • Hull, Lise, 2005, Castles and Bishops Palaces of Pembrokeshire (Logaston Press) p. 121
  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 36

Journals

  • Evans, J.W. et al, 1981, ‘Llangwathen’ Archaeology in Wales Vol. 21 p. 65