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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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Dyserth Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Maelan; Caer Vaelan; Dincolin; Castle of the Rock; De Rupe; Caerfaelan; Carregfaelan

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

OS Map Grid Reference: SJ05987990
Latitude 53.30784° Longitude -3.41118°

Dyserth Castle has been described as a certain Masonry Castle.

There are masonry footings remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
Description

Dyserth Castle was a grand stone-built castle constructed by Henry III from 1241 and eventually destroyed by Llywelyn ab Gruffudd in 1263, after seven years of blockade and siege. It is thought to have occupied the site of a later prehistoric style hillfort, occupied into the Roman period. The castle was sometimes known as Castell-y-Garrec or Caer Faelan. Most of the castle was destoyed by quarrying in the early twentieth century, leaving only the earthworks of the outer court and part of the ditch of the stone castle. Survey and excavations were undertaken prior to the castle's destruction, but there is no way of checking their accuracy. The site and the castle ruins are depicted prior to their destruction on early editions of the Ordnance Survey County series. The castle occupied the summit of a terrific crag overlooking the Vale of Clwyd. It had a small inner court about 30m by 15-20m with great polygonal towers, including a twin towered gatehouse. This stood within a larger court, perhaps 60-80m across, whose walls appear to have run about terraces on the rock. All this is now gone although large parts of an outer ditch and counterscarp remain. An outer court to the east, roughly 60m across, is defined by a ditch and counterscarp except on the south, where it rests on headlong crags. (Coflein)

The monument consists of the remains of a castle, dating to the medieval period. A castle is a defended residence or stronghold, built mainly of stone, in which the principal or sole defence comprises the walls and towers bounding the site. Some form of keep may have stood within the enclosure but these were not significant in defensive terms and served mainly to provide accommodation. The remains consist principally of an outer work, on the east side of the castle site. This has a defensive bank and ditch round the north and east side, with the entrance on the east side. To the west of the outer ward the castle site has been almost completely quarried away though part of the hill remains. (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  
Air Photos > 
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Photos >
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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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 16:46:40
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