Amroth Castle Park

Has been described as a Possible Timber Castle (Motte), and also as a Possible Masonry Castle

There are earthwork remains

NameAmroth Castle Park
Alternative NamesLong Furze; Earwere; Erwer; Eare Weare; Amroath; Ambroth; Amboth; Little Castle Park
Historic CountryPembrokeshire
Modern AuthorityPembrokeshire
1974 AuthorityDyfed
CommunityAmroth

Little Castle Park is a low circular earthwork c. 30m diameter by c. 1m high with a discernible outer ditch best preserved on the west side. A trackway has been cut through the eastern edge of this monument at the top edge of a steep natural, wooded, slope which acts as a natural defence on that side. Elsewhere the topography is a south facing gentle slope in an improved pasture field at 80m above sea level. The field name for the site is ‘Little Castle Park’. The land is currently owned by the National Trust. (RR March 2009). A small mound, in the field called Castle Park adjoining the churchyard, that is traditionally thought to be the site of Earware (later Amroth) castle. The Royal Commission felt that the many old coal workings in this area made suspect the identification of this site as a castle mound. In contrast with this view, however, is that of the Ordnance Survey, who suggest that the presence of a ditch and the absence of a ramp makes it doubtful that this is a mound associated with coal working. The feature is clearly shown on the 1st edition 1:2500 Ordnance survey map. (MM March 2003). (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER)

The sub-circular/D-shaped mound at Amroth Castle measures 32m NW-SE by 27.5m and 1.2m high, resting on steep natural slopes to the north-east. Apparent traces of a ditch on the north-west may be associated with a recent field boundary. It is set in a field called 'Little Castle Park'. It is possibly a spoil heap, the site of Castlepark Colliery (shown as disused on OS County series (1889)) lying c.600m to the south, although a sounding taken in 1965 did not show distinctive colliery waste. (Coflein)

Motte by church no obvious remains. (King)

Gatehouse Comments

Hull writes there is dressed stone and possible foundations here, but this account does not fit with other descriptions of the site (mining spoil can look like cut stone). However, if correct, perhaps the stone gatehouse of Amroth Castle originated here.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSN163076
Latitude51.7368583679199
Longitude-4.66062021255493
Eastings216390
Northings207680
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Hull, Lise, 2005, Castles and Bishops Palaces of Pembrokeshire (Logaston Press) p. 41-2
  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 27
  • Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p. 48
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 391
  • Stickings, T.G., 1973, Castles and Strongholds of Pembrokeshire (Tenby) p. 53
  • Rees, Wm, 1932, Map of South Wales and the Border in the 14th century (Ordnance Survey) (A handbook to the map was published in 1933)
  • RCAHMW, 1925, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Pembrokeshire (HMSO) p. 6-7 no. 13 online copy

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
  • King, D.J.C., 1962, 'The Castles of Pembrokeshire' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 119 p. 313-6 online copy

Other

  • Ramsey, R., Page, M. and Shobbrook, A., 2009, Scheduling enhancement project 2009: medieval minor defended sites