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Foel Las Motte, Pentrefoelas

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Foel; Voelas; Llanfair Rhyd; Hen Foelas; Y Foelas; Castell Coch

In the community of Pentrefoelas.
In the historic county of Denbighshire.
Modern authority of Conwy.
Preserved county of Clwyd.

OS Map Grid Reference: SH87005225
Latitude 53.05538° Longitude -3.68739°

Foel Las Motte, Pentrefoelas has been described as a certain Timber Castle, and also as a probable Masonry Castle.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
Description

Thought to be a scarped natural hill: an oval mound, c.35m NW-Se by 30m and 7.5m high, having a level summit, 20 NW-SE by 12m, set within an irregular scarped area, c.90m NW-SE by 54m, the whole damaged by quarrying on the NE. (Coflein)

A motte 7.5m high created by scarping a natural hill. Possible bailey to south. Incomplete traces of ditch on north and west sides. Nant y Foel river to east. Spurgeon considers there to be no trace of a bailey at this site (Manley, J, Grenter, S & Gale, F, 1991, pp171). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

Large complex of earthworks, the result of scarping a natural hill, set within private woodland on W. bank of Nant-Y-Foel, 700 M. N.N.W. of Pentrefoelas. The motte 23 M. N.W. - S.E. and 10 M. S.W. - N.E. has a kidney-shaped form at least partly enhanced by slip of its fine gravel composition towards the river, 10 M. below, on the east side. An irregular hollow occupies its centre. On the other three sides it slopes steeply down to a terrace or outer enclosure between 6.5 M. and 32 M. from the base of the motte to the point where it falls away-to a narrow incomplete ditch on the N.W. side, a series of terraces and a shallow ditch on the south west side, and to a farm track and river meadow on the S.E. and E. The river skirts the base of the earthworks to the north, possibly originally also skirting them on the east, having switched its course further to the east. To the west of the earthworks and footpath/track a former mill-pool was probably associated with the farm buildings to the south west. The site of a former grange/Manor House may lie to the south, fragments of which may be incorporated in Foelas Uchaf Farm. (Scheduling Report)
Links to archaeological and architectural databases, mapping and other online resources

Data >
Coflein   County HER   Scheduling        
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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This record last updated 06/07/2016 16:31:04
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