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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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Bryn Castell, Bagillt

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Basingwerk; Dinas Bassing; gastell Basing

In the community of Bagillt.
In the historic county of Flintshire.
Modern authority of Flintshire.
Preserved county of Clwyd.

OS Map Grid Reference: SJ22437354
Latitude 53.25314° Longitude -3.16412°

Bryn Castell, Bagillt has been described as a probable Timber Castle.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
Description

Mound 28m diam x 5m high, possible ditch on S. Scheduled as a motte. Tumulus 50yds E of Coed Ffrith surrounded at its base by a slight platform of earth 3-5 inches high. Tumulus is 20ft high on W and 14ft high on E. Circular top 10ft diam. Mound composed of rubble and sand. A section has been dug into it from the summit to ground level while on S side a trench has been driven into centre (RCAHM 1912, 17). Base diam 28m and ave 5m high. Around S sides are traces of a ditch 4-5m wide but now less than 0.2m deep. Also traces of a berm 2-2.5m wide and less than 0.2m high probably result of plough encroachment on mound (OS 1976). Substantial mound c. 30m diameter x 5m high. Excavation trench on SW side, 4m wide x 1.5m deep, cut from outer edge to centre . Mound now covered in gorse & nettles with hawthorn and nettles. Sides steeply sloping. No clear trace of a ditch although there is a broad flat terrace up to 6m wide surrounding the mound. Size and profile may suggest a motte rather than a barrow, but difficult to be sure. Sited in undulating pasture. Has a commanding position overlooking a deep valley (to N) and Flint (to E) (CPAT 1999). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and ditch, dating to the medieval period (c. 1066 -1540 AD). A motte is a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil and/or stone, usually surrounded by either a wet or dry ditch, and surmounted by a tower constructed of timber or stone. The motte stands to a height of 18ft and has a flattened top with a diameter of 25ft. There is a large hole cut into the top of the motte, measuring 7ft deep, which is continued as a trench down the west side. (Scheduling Report)
Comments

Scheduled as a motte but also recorded in CARN as round Barrow.
This is Kings favoured site for the Castle of Basingwerk (Dinas Bassing) record in 1157 and 1166, which is also identified with Hen Blas, Holywell or a lost site near Basinwerk manor. The record for 1157 (Ann. Cest.) reads 'rex Henricus Ruelan et Basiwerch firmavit' -King Herny fortified Rhuddlan and Basingwerk- does not mention a castle and Hogg and King write 'may have been no more than a road block.'
Links to archaeological and architectural databases, mapping and other online resources

Data >
Coflein   County HER   Scheduling        
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Streetmap   NLS maps   Where's the path   Old-Maps      
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales, the four welsh archaeological trusts and other individuals and organisations. It may also contain Designated Historic Asset Descriptive Information from The Welsh Historic Environment Service (Cadw), licensed under the Open Government Licence. All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes.
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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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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 06/07/2016 16:45:51
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