Gogarth Grange

Cadw's description

Summary description and reason for designation

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Monument.

The monument consists of the remains of a medieval palace of the Bishops of Bangor, comprising a chamber block largely lost to coastal erosion and a hall with ancillary buildings, part of which has also been lost to the erosion of the cliff.

The chamber block is of stone and probably built in the 13th century, with the later hall dating to the 14th century. Archaeological excavation has shown that the chamber block was destroyed by fire in the late 14th/early 15th century with the whole complex being abandoned in the late 15th century when a new residence for the Bishops was built in Bangor.

The complex was not only a residence for the Bishop but also the centre of a manorial complex with its associated lands covering the Great Orme. Views over this land are limited due to the topography of the area but the views over Conwy Bay were significant when the complex was built. The significant views are therefore to westward, in an arc from north-west to south-east

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of the medieval period. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits. The structures themselves may be expected to contain archaeological information concerning chronology and building techniques.

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