St Mary's Yard Castle Mound

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 small ditched motte or artificial castle mound that would have supported a timber tower or hall, probably dating between the 11th to early 13th centuries. It is located on the west bank of the river Usk with immediately above a sharp drop to the river and consists of a steep sided, flat topped mound, 3.5m high, and is D-shaped with the straight side being adjacent to the river, which may be the result of erosion. The summit is 16m long (N/S) and 13m wide and the enclosing ditch 1.8m deep and 4m wide. The approach away from the River is almost level and there is no sign of a small bailey suggested in the mid 20th century, although buildings must have existed in this area. It is located some 2km to the south of the medieval parish church and is isolated from any other known relics of medieval settlement.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval military architecture and the Norman conquest and colonisation of medieval Gwent. The monument is well-preserved and shares group value with a series of small undocumented castle earthworks in the lower Usk Valley and probably represents the modest defended residence and estate centre of a minor Norman military tenant. 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.