Castle Nimble

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. Castle Nimble is situated on level ground on the bank of a small stream. The motte is c.25m in diameter and 1.6m high, with a summit measuring c.17m north-north-west to east-south-east by c.16m. It is surrounded on its north, west and south sides by a ditch and, on the west and south, a counterscarp bank 0.8m high. To the east of the motte lies a sub-rectangular bailey, measuring c.30m east-west by c.20m internally, defended on the east and south by a bank which stands 0.9m above a ditch 0.6m deep; on the north there is only a ditch with an outer counterscarp bank.

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.