Bronllys Castle

Description

Late C11/early C12 motte with C13 round stone keep. Three floors, with fine views. To the north are two baileys each with a bank and ditch. The sites of bastion towers may be detected where there are breaks in the bank and ditch of the outer bailey. A cylindrical tower its base draped in a low mound, at the apex of an irregularly pentagonal enclosure, c.156m by 136m, defined by lengths of banks and ditches. Remains of castle buildings, possibly C16, incorporated in stables of later house , whose gardens have obscured the castle remains. The present tower, probably early- mid-C13, is a second stone rebuild of an earlier C12 structure. Circular plan of 3-storeys plus basement, built of sandstone with no roof. The walls stand to almost full height. The windows are rebated internally for shutters. Vaulted basement.

Motte 8m high topped by a round keep with main and outer baileys defined by a bank and ditch lying to the north. Apparent bastion sites visible as breaks in bank and ditch of outer bailey. The first castle, which had wooden buildings, was probably built by Richard fitz Pons around 1138. The tower was built during the mid C13. It is entered at first floor level and contained a basement for storage or for a prison plus second floor living rooms. During C14 the windows were enlarged and replaced and a top storey was added for a chamber with three windows, a latrine and a fireplace. (Burnham, H 1995, 159-161). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

History: Bronllys Castle was located here to be near a palace or llys of the princes of Brycheiniog, thus both close to the seat of power and controlling the crossing of the River Llynfi. The present tower is the second rebuild in stone by Walter de Clifford II d1220, or III (1221-1263) of the original strong point of the castle of Richard Fitzpons of Clifford, originally erected c.1090-3 for his newly established capital for the cantref of Selyf, now only represented by the motte, with its extensive c.3 ha. inner and outer baileys lying to the N. A stone tower, probably a predecessor of the present one, was damaged by fire in 1175. The castle is believed to have been taken in 1262 and was again captured in 1322. The tower was later modified and was last fortified against the insurrection of Owain Glyndwr. The castle was at various times occupied by the Bohuns, Staffords, and the Crown, and was the home of Bedo Bruinllys the bard, the collector of the poems of Dafydd ap Gwillym. In 1521 it was reported by Leland as being beyond repair. Description: Tightly laid laminated sandstone. No roof. Circular plan comprising 3 storeys and a basement within the apron splayed below a projecting string course, having 1 slit vent. Chamfered arched door on E, probably originally approached by an external wooden stair, leads to a circular chamber with 3 segmental tufa-arched embrasures equally spaced around circumference, that at SW with a window seat and stair to the 2nd floor. The embrasure on the NW is also seated and contains the stair to the vaulted basement. The windows are rebated internally for shutters, and secured by a draw bar. Sockets for ferrumenta and indications of a glazing check in the window head. Wall stair of 15 treads has two small lights. The first, solar, floor is now missing, but was carried on 12 bull-nosed corbels equally spaced around the wall. Seated embrasures on the S and E sides, with C14 ogee-headed foiled windows, also rebated for shutters, and a fireplace with depressed 2-centred chamfered arch on the W side, the hood lintel (missing) carried on finely carved brackets. Some plaster survives on S. From the E embrasure, a rebated stone frame for a door leads to a wall stair to the second floor, again also carried on 12 bullnosed corbels. This level has four similar window embrasures and a chamfered garde-robe doorcase, and a fireplace on the N wall with cantilevered hearth, tapered roll-moulded jambs and corbelled out for the missing hood lintel. The walls survive to their approximate full height, but there is little evidence for the roof. Included at Grade I as among the best preserved examples of the C13 round stone tower fortifications, once widespread in Wales and England, and characteristic of the Welsh Marches. (Listed Building Report)

The castle at Bronllys is sited above the floodplain of Afon Llynfi and is thought to occupy the site of a pre-Norman llys, a princely court. (Coflein)