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The comprehensive gazetteer and bibliography of the medieval castles, fortifications and palaces of England, Wales, the Islands.
 
 
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Nefyn

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Tomen Nevin

In the community of Nefyn.
In the historic county of Caernarfonshire.
Modern authority of Gwynedd.
Preserved county of Gwynedd.

OS Map Grid Reference: SH30664057
Latitude 52.93491° Longitude -4.52212°

Nefyn has been described as a probable Timber Castle.

There are earthwork remains.

This is a Grade 2 listed building protected by law*.

Description

Much mutilated motte with C19 fisherman's watch tower on top. (King 1983)

An originally circular mound, c.16.5m in diameter and 3.0m high, having a summit area, c.12m in diameter, encroached upon and cut away on the W, by public conveniences. A watch tower has been raised upon the summit. (Coflein)

Situated on a mound near the centre of Nefyn, some 60m W of the junction of the A497 and the B4417 and approximately 25m N of the latter.
C19 watch tower probably built in connection with the fishing industry. It is shown on the 1889 O.S. map but not marked on the Nefyn Tithe Map of 1838 so is possibly mid C19. It stands on a circular mound which is possibly of an earlier date.
Small square watch tower of rubble stone built on the summit of the remains of a small circular mound some 3m high. Tower is approximately 3m square and some 5m high with a plain parapet 1m high. There are 15 external steps with iron handrail on the landward side turning a right angle after 9 steps to gain the platform.
A rare example of a coastal watch tower, possibly connected with the C19 herring fishing industry of Nefyn. (Listed Building Report)

Motte, on N.W. side of town. Mutilated remains of a circular mound originally perhaps 10 ft. high and 40 ft. in diameter at the top. The N. side has been terraced and revetted with a modern wall, and building encroach on the S. side, which has been partly cut away. The watch tower crowns the summit. Nothing remains to show whether a bailey existed. (RCAHMW 1964)
Comments

Despite being damaged there seems little real doubt this was a motte. Any bailey has been lost to development. The location is typical for a manorial centre, in the middle of settlement and by the church.
Links to archaeological and architectural databases, mapping and other online resources

Data >
Coflein   County HER       Listing    
Maps >
Streetmap   NLS maps   Where's the path   Old-Maps      
Data/Maps > 
Magic   Historic Wales   V. O. B.   Geology   LIDAR  
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.
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*The listed building may not be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site of, or incorporating fragments of the described site.

This record last updated 05/03/2016 07:44:02


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