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Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales

Newcastle Emlyn Castle

Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, Wales

A scheduled monument in Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, recorded as Castle (Medieval).

Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913) covering the location of Newcastle Emlyn Castle, Carmarthenshire, with a pin at the register's coordinates
Ordnance Survey six-inch map, 2nd edition (1888–1913), covering this location. Courtesy of the National Library of Scotland. The pin is ours, placed from the register's coordinates.

The record

Designation
Scheduled monument
Site type
Castle
Period
Medieval
Community
Newcastle Emlyn
Unitary authority
Carmarthenshire
Country
Wales
Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
52.03914, -4.46327
SAM number
CM085
Cadw record number
671

Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.

David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1830 map "V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).

Historical maps covering this location

  • 1830 · V.3:11-15:XV. Britisches Reich. A. Kon: England. b. Frstenthum Wales: Shire: 37-40 (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1860 · 41. Caermathen. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1891 · Sheet 10. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. . (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1898 · 211 Newcastle Emlyn (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
  • 1901 · Sheet 14. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

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This record in Cadw's own full report ↗

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.

The monument consists of the remains of a castle, dating to the medieval period. A castle is a defended residence or stronghold, built mainly of stone, in which the principal or sole defence comprises the walls and towers bounding the site. Some form of keep may have stood within the enclosure but these were not significant in defensive terms and served mainly to provide accommodation. Newcastle Emlyn Castle occupies a site within a hairpin bend of the Teifi. The remains consist of a twin-towered gateway measuring c. 7.6m high and partially reconstructed. There are the ruins of a corner-tower to its south. In front of this on the west side is a steep banked barbican which is now grass covered, but must contain stone foundations. To the west of this are a further bank and ditch 3m behind it. Within the gateway is an oval-shaped ward with banks c. 1.8m high all containing glimpses of masonry.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval defensive practices. The monument is well-preserved and an important relic of the medieval landscape. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of both structural evidence and intact associated deposits.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.

Nearby in the register

Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.

Designated Historic Asset GIS Data, The Welsh Historic Environment Service (Cadw), 2026-09-07, licensed under the Open Government Licence http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ Cadw, the Welsh Historic Environment Service · Open Government Licence v3.0
All Castle in Carmarthenshire All Unitary authority Carmarthenshire records All Wales Heritage registers Historical markers (US)National Register of Historic Places (US)
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