Llowes Castle Tump

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

NameLlowes Castle Tump
Alternative Names
Historic CountryRadnorshire
Modern AuthorityPowys
1974 AuthorityPowys
CommunityGlasbury

Llowes Motte is a rather irregular mound, c.28m in diameter and 4.2m high, is ditched except to the S where it rests on the old river channel of the Wye. An adjacent rectangular ditched enclosure, c.60m square (suggested as a possible Roman fort), has been observed on the NW now eroded by River Wye. (Derived from Coflein)

Multiple site comprising a motte and poss roman fort reused as bailey. (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

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. Castle Tump, also known as Llowes Castle, is a motte c.28m in diameter and c.4.2m high, surrounded by a ditch except on the south-west, where it adjoins the old river channel of the Wye. An adjacent rectilinear cropmark may be associated with the motte. (Scheduling Report)

Gatehouse Comments

Paul Remfry states (pers. corr.) that further research shows this is almost certainly non-military. This is right in the middle of the Wye flood plain which seems an unlikely site for a castle (given the flood plain was probably marshy in medieval times) and one might question how 900 year old features (let alone 1900 year old features) can have survived such an erosive environment. The irregular form of the mound might suggest a glacial origin although later river erosion has to be considered. A 'ditched enclosure' may just be early modern field drainage.

- 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 ReferenceSO190406
Latitude52.0580101013184
Longitude-3.18289995193481
Eastings319088
Northings240699
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

  • Remfry, P., 2008, The Castles and History of Radnorshire (SCS Publishing)
  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 250 (listed)
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p. 64
  • Remfry, P., 1996, Castles of Radnorshire (Logaston Press) p. 138
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 409
  • RCAHMW, 1913, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Radnorshire (HMSO) p. 113 no. 462 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