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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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Capel Pentyrch Enclosure

In the community of Llanfair Caereinion.
In the historic county of Montgomeryshire.
Modern authority of Powys.
Preserved county of Powys.

OS Map Grid Reference: SJ05590894
Latitude 52.66991° Longitude -3.39756°

Capel Pentyrch Enclosure has been described as a Timber Castle although is doubtful that it was such.

There are no visible remains.

Description

Stretch of curvilinear bank some 3m wide and up to 1m high with shallow external ditch apparently forming the NE quadrant of a much reduced enclosure. Probably originally sub-circular or 'D-shaped' though the S and W parts obliterated by modern road and recent agriculture. Possibly original 80m across. Sited on S lip of river valley below southern slopes of Moel Bentyrch hillfort. (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER of ?ringwork)

The field in which the given NGR lies is marked by an uneven, undulating surface of roughly parallel ridges and troughs. These fade towards the crest of the slope which is thus accentuated in places, especially on the W. On the E a more regular arc of broad banking is about 26m long but makes little sense as an artificial feature. (Coflein)
Comments

Whilst clearly most likely as an Iron Age domestic enclosure the situation is not without merit as a administrative centre (which is presumably the reason for putting a later chapel here) and medieval use of the site can not be totally excluded, though probably nothing which would warrant the description of castle.
Links to archaeological and architectural databases, mapping and other online resources

Data >
Coflein   County HER            
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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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This record last updated before 1 February 2016


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