Wikipedia

Draft:Llanthomas Castle Mound

  • Comment: Scheduled monuments do not appear to have the same notability as listed buildings, there being 950 in Powys alone, almost none of which have standalone articles. If better notability can be established, I still recommend removing the "Introduction to early medieval castles in Wales" section, as this historical information is already sufficiently covered in Castles in Great Britain and Ireland, and serves here only to artificially promote this particular monument's importance. WikiDan61ChatMe!ReadMe!! 18:59, 7 February 2024 (UTC)


Llanthomas Castle Mound (LCM) edit

Llanthomas Castle Mound
 
Llanthomas Castle Mound
 
 
Llanthomas Castle Mound
Location within Powys
Principal area
Preserved county
CountryWales
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townHEREFORD
Postcode districtHR3
Dialling code01497
PoliceDyfed-Powys
FireMid and West Wales
AmbulanceWelsh
UK Parliament
Senedd Cymru – Welsh Parliament
List of places
UK
Wales
Powys

52°03′22″N 3°09′17″W / 52.056°N 3.1548°W / 52.056; -3.1548

Reference no.
Cadw BR078

CPAT PRN443
Coflein NPRN306308

Height 3.5 m Summit diameter 9.0 m Base diameter 24.0 m
 
Early attempt at reconstruction of a château à Motte by A. de Caumont, 19th century

Cadw have described LCM as an important relic of medieval architecture which might extend knowledge of medieval defensive practices [1].

 
Bayeux Tapestry - Motte Castle Dinan

The tudor antiquarian John Leyland (1503-1552) described LCM as a defensive architecture (after translation from Latin and Tudor English) [2] [3].

LCM was built by the Normans after the Norman conquest of England. LCM is a first generation motte and bailey castle design (i.e. earth and timber) and built before 1215 [1] [4].

Earth and timber castles had a wooden watchtower (i.e. the keep) on the summit of the motte, a wooden palisade fence around the bailey (i.e. the courtyard) and a deep ditch surrounding the bailey.

 
Bayeux Tapestry - Building of a motte-and-bailey castle in Hastings

A millennium later all the above ground wood has perished. LCM today comprises the motte, a ditch and buried masonry underpinning part of the wooden fence surrounding the bailey [1]. Traces of the possible site of the bailey have been found to the south-east of the motte [5].

Toponymy edit

“Llan” is the Welsh word for the sacred land around a church [6]. Thus, Llanthomas translates to Thomas church.

Sites where there is no current evidence of the former bailey are named castle mounds, or tumps or twts [7].

Until recently the grazing meadow surrounding the motte was called Bailey Court [3]. The words bailey and court are of Norman origin [8].

Excavations edit

In 1921, the Rev W.E.T.  Morgan, Vicar at the pre-conquest church of St. Eigon, Llanigon [9], and an amateur archaeologist hosted a visit from the Woolhope club [3]. He dug a small excavation trench on the summit of the motte, but he found no artefacts [10]. There is no known evidence of any professional level archaeological excavation or geophysical survey of LCM.

A professional excavation of a possible site for the bailey revealed activity associated with the motte (1988). A number of artefacts were found including a sherd from the base of a medieval cooking pot, and a pitt filled with charcoal suggested a kitchen area within the bailey [5]. A private bungalow has since been built over the site [11]

Alternative names edit

There have been many antiquarian and modern sources that reference LCM [12] [13], sometimes with a variation in name, reflecting the close proxity to Llanigon and Hay-on-Wye e.g. Llanthomas Motte [2] [14], Llanthomas [15], Llanthomas Mound [16], Llanigon Castle [17] [18], Hay No.3 [12] and Hay Rural [13] etc. Some antiquarian sources allude to LCM e.g. the tumulus on the brook below Llanthomas [19] [20], the mound at Llanigan Castle [21] and the mound in Bailey Court [3] etc.

Welsh government records edit

 
Welsh Archaeological Trusts shown within Wales: (1) Clwyd–Powys Archaeological Trust, (2) Dyfed Archaeological Trust, (3) Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust, (4)Gwynedd Archaeological Trust.
 
Cadw logo
 
Cadw scheduled area, hashing shows raised ground around the Motte

Cadw (founded in 1984) is a division of the Welsh Government. As a regulatory authority, Cadw identify the buildings and monuments that meet their criteria for scheduling and legal protection under the Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016, and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The Cadw scheduled monument number for LCM is BR078 [22].

Cadw collaborates with the Clwyd–Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT). The CPAT record number for LCM is PRN 443 [23]. The records include Cadw reports going back to their founding e.g. 38278 (1988) [24], 2586 (1995) [25] .

The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW) maintain an online database known as the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW) called Coflein. The Coflein record number for LCM is NPRN: 306308 [26]. Historical record numbers for LCM include: 6057064, 6054097, 6064626, 6140925, 6140927, 6359576, 6464877, 6140926, 6140924, 6054098, 6059886, 6519900.

Location edit

 
Hay Bluff
 
River Wye at Hay-on-Wye

Llanthomas Castle Mound (LCM.[27]) is located in Wales about 2 miles from the border with England, in the area known as the Welsh Marches [28].

LCM is on the Middle Wye Valley. The site was probably chosen because it occupied a high point overlooking the River Wye less than a mile away. The fording point Little Fford Fawr [29] is located between LCM [30] and the south bank of the river.

LCM is near the village of Llanigon [31], Powys, Wales and about 2 miles from the "town of books" Hay-on-Wye. LCM is on Llanthomas lane, as is the Hay Festival fields. LCM is on a private property but can be viewed from Llanthomas lane (opposite the walled Llanthomas gardens, once part of Llanthomas manor) [32].

LCM is in the foothills of Hay Bluff in Bannau Brycheiniog (previously known as the Brecon Beacons), LCM was in the historic county of Brecknockshire/Breconshire which became Powys in 1974.

Map references edit

 
HR3 5PU street map https://streetmap.co.uk/postcode/hr35pu
OS Map Grid Reference SO 2091 4036
what3words provoking.rave.longer
Postcode HR3 5PU
Latitude: 52.056 Longitude: -3.1548
Latitude: 52° 3' 21"N Longitude: 3° 9' 17"W
OS Eastings: 320919 OS Northings: 240366
Mapcode National GBR F0.DL2G

History edit

When appropriate the Normans speeded up castle construction by building on existing Iron age or Bronze age hillforts, Roman ruins and ditches, which enhanced the castle's defensive architecture. Some antiquarian scholars believed that the LCM is built on an Iron Age tumulus [19] [33] [34] [18]. The castle is likely to have been be built of sandstone and limestone which was quaried locally [35].

The second Norman invasion of Wales was led by the Norman lord Bernard de Neufmarché (c.1050–c.1125). Brycheiniog was conquered around 1088 to 1095 and then divided into lesser lordships (e.g. Llanthomas), and gifted to the knights who contributed to the conquest [36]. Llanthomas lordship was part of the lordship of Hay, owned by William Revel, one of Bernard de Neufmarché knights [17]. Revel may have built Hay-on-Wye Castle Motte, near St. Marys church in Hay-on-Wye [37] [38].

LCM existed from the early days of the Norman conquest [4] [39] [40] and was part of the lordship of Llanthomas [17]. Local historians have suggested that one of the first lords of the manor was William de Ferre, Earl of Derby (c.1138 - c.1189) [17].

In the 14th century, LCM is known to belong to Llanthomas manor which had a proprietary church. The proprietary church had disappeared by the 18th century [41]. It is not known when LCM was sold as a parcel of land for farming.

The first known Llanthomas lord of the manor was Walter Devereux (1488 -1558). He inherited Llanthomas in 1509 [42] [43]. Later known owners include: William Thomas (c.1524 - 1554), Lettice Devereux, nee Knollys (1543 – 1634), William Watkins (died 1702), Thynne Howe Gwynne (c.1780 - 1855), Sir William Pilkington (1775 – 1850), Rev. William Jones Thomas (1811 – 1886). Thomas family members inherited Llanthomas, and lived in the manor house up to 1954 when it was knocked down.

Medieval Castles along the Middle Wye Valley edit

There are many earth and timber castles built along the low lying sites of the Middle Wye valley [44] e.g. Aberllynfi, Bronllys, Hay, Llanthomas, Garn-y-castell, Tredustan, Trefecca, possibly Clyro, Castle Kinsey at Court Evan Gwynne, the former Motte at Glasbury, Castle Tump near Llowes, possibly the ringwork at Cefn Bank near Trefecca Fawr, and Boughrood Castle [45].

Some castles are no longer visible e,g. Whitney Castle [46] which was washed away when the River Wye changed course in 1730 [47].

Many castles are still visible and are close to LCM e.g. 1.1 miles: Llowes Castle/ Llowes Motte/ Llowes Castle Tump [48]; 1.5 miles: Hay-on-Wye Motte (c.f. "First Castle" and "Stone Castle") [49], [50] ,[51]; 2.0 miles: Clyro Castle [52]; 2.2 miles: Glasbury Motte c.f. ("Glasbury Castle") [53]; 2.5 miles: Cusop Castle (c.f. "Cusop Castle", "Mouse Castle") [54]; 2.7 miles: Aberllynfi Castle/ Great House Mound [55]; 2.8 miles: Castle Kinsey [56]; 3.9 miles: Clifford Castle [57]; 4.5 miles: PainsCastle Castle [58]; 4.8 miles: Boughrood Motte [59] and 5.0 miles: Bronllys Castle [60].

Notable people edit

Online references to LCM edit

Online lists of medieval period castles in Wales, that include LCM:

  • List of the medieval fortified sites of the historic county of Brecknockshire [63] including LCM [64].
  • List of tumps c.f. c.f. Llanthomas Castle Mound.
  • List of Castles in Wales c.f. Llanthomas Castle Motte.
  • Welsh Castle Database [65] c.f. Llanthomas Motte.
  • The Castle Guide [66] – a selection of castles from around the UK c.f. Llanthomas Motte.
  • Historical Britain - Mottes [67] c.f. Llanthomas Motte.
  • Anglo-Norman Castles [68] c.f. Llanthomas.
  • Where to Photograph Castles in Brecknockshire [69] c.f. Llanthomas.
  • Castles in Wales [70] c.f. Llanthomas Castle Mound, etc.

Other online sites that reference LCM include:

  • Landscape Britain [71] has a radar map of the LCM terrain [72].
  • Ancient OS maps e.g. 1888 c.f. tumulus 370[73]
  • Images of LCM [27].
  • Motte (Internet) weather station [74].
  • HR3 5PU streetmap [75].

Antiquarian books with references to LCM edit

  • Leyland, John (1906). The itinerary in Wales, 1536-1539 (Lucy Toulmin Smith ed.) [2].
  • Poole, Edwin (1886) [76]. The Illustrated History and Biography of Brecknockshire from the Earliest Times to the Present Day [77].
  • Lewis, Samuel (1833). A topographical dictionary of Wales, Vol 1 [78].
  • Lewis, Samuel (1833). A topographical dictionary of Wales, Vol 2.[79].

Modern books with references to LCM edit

  • Remfry, Paul Martin (1999, p 122). Castles of Breconshire: No. 8. Herefordshire: Logaston Press. ISBN 978-1-873827-80-2 .
  • Salter, Mike (2001, p 29). The Castles of Mid Wales (2nd ed.). Folly Publications. ISBN 1-871731-48-8.
  • Morgan, Gerald (2013, p 232). Castles in Wales - a Handbook (1st ed.). Y Lolfa. ISBM 978-1-84771-031-4

Selected journal articles with references to LCM edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Scheduled Monument - Full Report - HeritageBill Cadw Assets - Reports". cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  2. ^ a b c Leyland, John (1906). The itinerary in Wales, 1536-1539 (Lucy Toulmin Smith ed.). p. 108.
  3. ^ a b c d Morgan, W.E.T. Morgan (1921). "TRANSACTIONS 1921 The Woolhope Club I Further notes on the parish of Llanigon I Page 13". www.woolhopeclub.org.uk. p. 14. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
  4. ^ a b "Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust - Community Heritage". cpat.org.uk. c.f. Llanigon. Retrieved 2024-02-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. ^ a b Dorling, P. "Llanthomas Motte. Llanigon". Archaeology in Wales. 28: 68.
  6. ^ "What's in a name? Llan, Pencader Carmarthenshire | West Wales Life & Style". www.westwaleslifeandstyle.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  7. ^ Herefordshire Archaeology, Herefordshire Council (2015-03-02). "Herefordshire Through Time - Welcome". htt.herefordshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  8. ^ "Bailey Court - Recorded name - Historic Place Names of Wales". historicplacenames.rcahmw.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  9. ^ "Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust - Projects - Historic Landscapes - Middle Wye - The Religious Landscape". www.cpat.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  10. ^ "Home | The Woolhope Club". www.woolhopeclub.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  11. ^ "HAN 62 | The Woolhope Club". www.woolhopeclub.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
  12. ^ a b c King, D. J. Cathcart. "Brycheiniog | Vol. 7 | 1961 | Welsh Journals - The National Library of Wales". journals.library.wales. p. 88. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
  13. ^ a b c Ministry of Works (1961). List Of Ancient Monuments In England And Wales. p. 117.
  14. ^ Salter, Mike (2001-03-01). The Castles of Mid Wales (2nd ed.). Folly Publications. p. 29. ISBN 1-871731-48-8.
  15. ^ Morgan, Gerald (2013-09-03). Castles in Wales - a Handbook (1st ed.). Y Lolfa. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-84771-031-4.
  16. ^ Hogg, A.H.A.; King, D.J.C. (1963). "Archaeologia Cambrensis | Vol. 112 | Early Castles in Wales and the Marches". journals.library.wales. p. 95. Retrieved 2024-03-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  17. ^ a b c d e Remfry, Paul Martin (1999-04-15). Castles of Breconshire: No. 8. Herefordshire: Logaston Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-1-873827-80-2.
  18. ^ a b Reade, Hubert. "TRANSACTIONS 1921 | The Woolhope Club | "Castles and Camps of South Herefordshire" | Page 6". www.woolhopeclub.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  19. ^ a b Poole, Edwin (1886). The Illustrated History and Biography of Brecknockshire. Author. p. 216.
  20. ^ Lloyd, John Edward (1903). Historical memoranda of Breconshire; a collection of papers from various sources relating to the history of the County. Robarts - University of Toronto. Brecon Printed by E. Owen. p. 70.
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  29. ^ "Little Ffordd-Fawr · Hereford HR3 5PR, United Kingdom". Little Ffordd-Fawr · Hereford HR3 5PR, United Kingdom. Retrieved 2024-02-23.
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