Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Cwm-Clais Castle Mound
Cwmavon, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
A scheduled monument in Cwmavon, Neath Port Talbot, recorded as Motte (Medieval).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Motte
- Period
- Medieval
- Community
- Cwmavon
- Unitary authority
- Neath Port Talbot
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.61352, -3.78100
- SAM number
- GM289
- Cadw record number
- 2273
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
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1865 · England and Wales. England No. 6. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1891 · Sheet 10. Ordnance Survey of England and Wales. . (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1897 · 247 Swansea (Hills) (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 ditch, dating to the medieval period (c. 1066 -1540 AD). A motte is a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil and/or stone, usually surrounded by either a wet or dry ditch, and surmounted by a tower constructed of timber or stone.
Cwm-clais occupies a commanding position at the end of a spur above the Nant Cwm-Clais valley. The motte measures approximately 4.5-5m high and 15m in diameter at the top. Surrounding the motte is a shallow ditch which is not very pronounced on the north-east and east sides.
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
- Cwm Clais MillAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Blaen BaglanDomesticunder 1 mi
- Tabernacle ChapelReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Plas BaglanCastleunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.