Sycharth Castle, Llansilin

Description

At Sycharth are the well preserved earthworks of a medieval castle occupying a low knoll in the base of the Cynllaith valley, below its steep wooded slopes. The castle may be as early as the twelfth century, but direct evidence is lacking. It was fullsomely, but obliquely described in a poem of about 1390 and was burnt in 1403, having no further history. This is a motte and bailey castle, consisting of a large ditched earthen motte or castle mound, 50m in diameter and 10.6m high with a 26m diameter summit, with a crescentic bailey platform, 64m across and 32m deep, on the south-west side. Excavations of a small part of the motte top in 1962-3 only uncovered evidence for two timber framed buildings, part of what the 1390 poem describes as 'a fine wooden house atop a green hill'. Further buildings, including a great lordly hall, would have stood within the bailey. The poem mentions a mill, fishponds, a warren and a deerpark containing a lodge. (Coflein)

Poem describes timber hall on motte as a framed building of post and truss type, not a cruck building. It had 8 upper rooms, a tiled roof, chimney and nine 'wardrobes' (Peate, I C, 2000, 130). Geophysical survey funded by Cadw in 2009. This revealed, amongst other things, a second enclosure to the north. (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period. A motte and bailey castle comprises a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil or stone (the motte) surrounded by, or adjacent to, one or more embanked enclosures (the bailey). Both may be surrounded by wet or dry ditches and could be further strengthened with palisades, revetments, and/or a tower on top of the motte. The motte and bailey at Sycharth occupies a low knoll in the base of the Cynllaith valley, below its steep wooded slopes. It consists of a large ditched, earthen motte, c.50m in diameter and 10.6m high. The summit is 26m in diameter. The bailey platform is crescentic in form, measuring 64m across and 32m deep on the southwest side. The castle may be as early as the twelfth century, but direct evidence is lacking. It was obliquely described in a poem of about 1390 and was burnt in 1403, having no further history. Excavations of a small part of the motte top in 1962-3 only uncovered evidence for two timber framed buildings, part of what the 1390 poem describes as 'a fine wooden house atop a green hill'. Further buildings, including a great lordly hall, would have stood within the bailey. The poem mentions a mill (NPRN 308885), fishponds, a warren and a deerpark containing a lodge. (Scheduling Report)

Comments

Manor held by Owain Glyndwr and destroyed in 1403. Excavations 1962-3 uncovered traces of stone-cill walled buildings upon the motte. Excavations showed the castle still in use in C14 but was never given masonry defences and this was the caput of Glyndwr estate before his rebellion.