Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Brecon Castle
Brecon, Powys, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Motte and Bailey
- Period
- Medieval
- Date of designation
- 15 April 1993
- Welsh name
- Castell Aberhonddu
- Community
- Brecon
- Unitary authority
- Powys
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.94943, -3.39385
- SAM number
- BR022
- Cadw record number
- 1709
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1608 "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period. A motte and bailey castle comprises a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil or stone (the motte) surrounded by, or adjacent to, one or more embanked enclosures (the bailey). Both may be surrounded by wet or dry ditches and could be further strengthened with palisades, revetments, and/or a tower on top of the motte. The castle is thought to have been built around 1093 by Bernard de Neufmarche and comprises a 10m high Motte and an adjacent Bailey, now lying within the private garden of Ely Tower, the residence of the Bishop of Swansea and Brecon. On the summit of the Motte are the remains of a masonry shell keep and tower of probable 12th century date. The area of the Bailey extends westwards from the Motte and has been converted into an ornamental garden. A 20th century garden path has been built up the side of the Motte.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval defensive organisation. The well-preserved monument forms an important element within the wider medieval context and the structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information relating to chronology, building techniques and functional detail.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.
Nearby in the register
- Ely Tower of Brecon CastleDomesticunder 1 mi
- Stone Wall to NE of Castle Hotel which faces River Honddu, including Stone Outbuilding at N endTransportunder 1 mi
- Castle HouseNo class recordedunder 1 mi
- Ely HouseDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.