Castell Dol Wllf, Llanwenog (The Gatehouse Record)

Castell Dol Wllf, Llanwenog

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Castell Santesau; Castell Sant Esau; Castell Sant Esen; Castell Sant Hesse

In the community of Llanwenog.
In the historic county of Cardiganshire.
Modern authority of Ceredigion.
Preserved county of Dyfed.

OS Map Grid Reference: SN52024453
Latitude 52.07986° Longitude -4.15992°

Castell Dol Wllf, Llanwenog has been described as a probable Timber Castle.

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains.

This site has been descheduled.

Description

OS County series (Cardigan. XLI.7 1889; 1905) depicts a subrectangular mound, some 30m north-east to south-west by 24m, set on the the tip of a south-facing spur, resting on steep natural scarps above the Teifi river-plain to the east and ditched to the west; thought to represent a medieval castle mound, the earthworks have been largely destroyed by building activities. (Coflein)

Castell Dolwlff is situated on a scarp edged promontory overlooking the Afon Teifi at 99m above sea level. The steep fall of c. 9m down to the river on its eastern side afforded good natural defence to this former 24m diameter ringwork; the remaining defences comprised a strong bank and 6m wide ditch on the north and west sides. The site was formerly scheduled (SAM no. Cd 75) but became so mutillated by building development and landscaping that it was descheduled in 1990. Very little, if any, of the original defences are now evident save for the scarp to the east and south overlooking the river. (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER)

Comments

Ringwork mostly removed in 1968.

Sources of information, references and further reading

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s) for this site is/are 303874.
The County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) for this site is/are 736.

Books
- Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 252 (listed as possible)
  Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 29
  Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p. 52
  Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p. 46 (slight)
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 47
  Rees, Wm, 1932, Map of South Wales and the Border in the 14th century (Ordnance Survey) (A handbook to the map was published in 1933)
Periodical Articles
- King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol. 3 p. 90-127
  Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124
  King, D.J.C., 1956, 'The Castles of Cardiganshire' Ceredigion Vol. 3 p. 64 no. 23 online copy
  Evans, 1931, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 86 p. 408-9
  Evans, D.C., 1930, 'Rhydlan Deifi' Transactions of the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society Vol. 7 p. 69 online copy

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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.

The possible site or monument is represented on maps as a point location. This is a guide only. It should be noted that OS grid references defines an area, not a point location. In practice this means the actual center of the site or monument may often, but not always, be to the North East of the point shown.
Locations derived from OS grid references and from latitude longitiude may differ by a small distance.
Further information on mapping and location can be seen at this link.

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This record last updated before 1 February 2016

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