Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Rhayader Castle
Rhayader, Powys, Wales
A scheduled monument in Rhayader, Powys, recorded as Castle (Medieval).
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Castle
- Period
- Medieval
- Community
- Rhayader
- Unitary authority
- Powys
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 52.30072, -3.51451
- SAM number
- RD132
- Cadw record number
- 2610
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 1608 map "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · Particular description of Wales. Cambria seu Wallia (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 179 Rhyader (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 14. (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 consists of the remains of a castle, dating to the medieval period. A castle is a defended residence or stronghold, built mainly of stone, in which the principal or sole defence comprises the walls and towers bounding the site. Some form of keep may have stood within the enclosure but these were not significant in defensive terms and served mainly to provide accommodation. Rhayader Castle is set on a promontory above the River Wye, with large rock-cut vertical ditch to north-west and a scarp to the river plain on the west and south. The site is open ground covered with rough grass.
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
- Tabernacle ChapelReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Cwmdeuddwr ArmsCommercialunder 1 mi
- Old Police Station and Magistrates CourtCivilunder 1 mi
- (1) Group of HousesDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.