Castell Eglwyswrw

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. Castell Eglwysyrw is an oval earthwork with a greatest diameter of 35ft, formed by single bank rising 12' - 15' above the ditch and 4ft above the interior on the north and less on the south. In the north-east corner there is a round rising 10ft above interior in the outside of the top of which there is the remains of stone walling. The ditch has 4ft 6ins counterscarp but less on the north where the ground falls to stream.

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.