Bangor Castle

Has been described as a Questionable Timber Castle (Other/Unknown)

There are no visible remains

NameBangor Castle
Alternative NamesBangor Castell
Historic CountryCaernarfonshire
Modern AuthorityGwynedd
1974 AuthorityGwynedd
CommunityBangor

About the year 1080, Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, in order to assist his descent upon the Isle of Anglesey, and to secure the conquests he had already made in North Wales, erected a castle, about a quarter of a mile south-east of the city, on the ridge of hills which bounds the vale. Of this castle, no particular event is recorded in the history of the principality; probably after the restoration of Grufydd ab Cynan to the throne from which the earl had expelled him, it was either destroyed immediately, or suffered to fall gradually into ruins. (Lewis 1849)

The Tithe Award map is marked Castell at this spot, RCAHMW fieldwork in 1948 describes the site as comprising a semi-circular rampart with no structural remains. RCAHMW Investigator, W.E. Griffiths suggests the site is unlikely to be ancient and believes that the mound may be the remains of quarrying or may possibly be connected with the construction of the adjacent railway tunnel.

Source: NMR site files. (Coflein)

Gatehouse Comments

The castle built by Hugh is usually supposed to be Aber. This can not be railway spoil if seen by Lewis before 1849, well before the construction of the railway. The Tithe map is also likely to have been made well before the existence of the railway so even if Griffiths was not aware of Lewis his dismissal of the site as 'unlikely to be ancient' seems injudicious. The location is most like that of a barrow. It would seem to be a damaged mound and the semi-circular form may suggest a barrow that has robbed.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSH582712
Latitude53.2195510864258
Longitude-4.12347984313965
Eastings258320
Northings371270
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales online copy

Journals

  • Kenyon, John R., 1996, 'Fluctuating Frontiers: Normanno-Welsh Castle Warfare c. 1075 to 1240' Château Gaillard Vol. 17 p. 119-126

Primary Sources

  • Jones, Arthur (ed), 1910, History of Gruffydd ap Cynan (Manchester) p. 133 online copy