Castlefacts³

Hean Castle motte

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Motte)

There are earthwork remains

Name	Hean Castle motte
Alternative Names	Hen Gastell
Historic Country	Pembrokeshire
Modern Authority	Pembrokeshire
1974 Authority	Dyfed
Community	Saundersfoot

a motte in excellent condition. (Hull 2005)

Several discrete coal-mining features, depicted on OS County series (Pembroke. XXXV.15 1889), apparent as soilmarks, in the region of 20-30m across, occurring over an area at least 400m N-S by 250m; in the S part of the area are several copses, some apparently obscuring further areas of disturbance, others being tree clumps associated with Hean Castle park/landscaping (Nprn265312) - possibly making use of spoil-heaps/disturbed areas (J.Wiles, RCAHMW, 02.08.2004). (Coflein)

Gatehouse Comments

No motte recorded in either the NMR or SMR and not noted by other authorities but the placename, the presence of a mound and a location not far from Churchton church might all be suggestive of a castle site. A later high status house, called Hean Castle, stands nearby and the listed building report suggests the name of this house, hengastell, may refer to an earlier fortification, altough an Iron Age hill fort is what is suggested in that report.However, the Coflien record of coal mining spoil heaps at SN13500604 and some possibly landscaped for Hean Castle park, covering an area 400m by 250m, which probably includes Hull's given map reference. Without specific examination by an experienced field archaeologist (Hull is a historian) and given the clear evidence of mining spoil heaps and tree mounts in the area this suggested site has to be suspect.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)

(coal mining features)
400966

County Historic Environment Record

www.dyfedarchaeology.org.uk/heritagemanagement/her.htm

OS Map Grid Reference	SN138059
Latitude	51.7209396362305
Longitude	-4.6988000869751
Eastings	213800
Northings	205900