Castell Madoc Ringwork (The Gatehouse Record)

Castell Madoc Ringwork

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Madog; Llanfihangel Fechan 2; Madoc North

In the community of Honddu Isaf.
In the historic county of Brecknockshire.
Modern authority of Powys.
Preserved county of Powys.

OS Map Grid Reference: SO02533703
Latitude 52.02382° Longitude -3.42097°

Castell Madoc Ringwork has been described as a certain Timber Castle.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

Description

The Powell family constructed a sub-circular ringwork, defined by a bank and ditch, 30m overall diameter and 2.0m high, enclosing an area c.14m in diameter in c1095-1120. The rampart may have been slighted towards the approach on the south when they later built a motte and bailey castle on the lower ground to the SW. (Salter)

One of two castle sites found in the grounds of Castell Madoc House (NPRN 86032). The other is the motte next to the house (NPRN 305741), about 120m to the south-west. A roughly circular ringwork bank, 30m across and 2.0m high, with a south-east facing entrance gap, showing traces of a ditch. Excavation in 1968 produced medieval material (Medieval Archaeology 12 (1968), 181). Immediately north-west of the ringwork is large pond bay set across the course of the Nant Fawr. The dam is about 40m long and the pond itself would have extended at least 80m upstream. This feature could be associated with the later house grounds. (Coflein)

The monument comprises the remains of a well preserved castle-ringwork, which dates to the medieval period (c. AD 1066 - 1485). It is an almost circular earthwork measuring 30m in diameter with a single bank standing to a height of 2m. The interior is dished and up to 0.5m above the surrounding ground level, and the ringwork is surrounded by a partly destroyed shallow ditch. There is an entrance on the SE side. (Scheduling Report)

Sources of information, references and further reading

The CADW scheduled monument record number is BR155.
The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s) for this site is/are 92160.
The County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) for this site is/are 451.

Websites (Gatehouse is not responsible for the content of external websites.)
- Jeff Thomas's Castles of Wales
Books
- Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 232 (listed)
  Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p. 22
  Remfry, Paul, 1998, Castles of Breconshire (Logaston Press) p. 103-4
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 19
  Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 356
Periodical Articles
- King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol. 3 p. 90-127
  Talbot, E.J. and Field, B.V., 1968, 'TThe excavation of Castell Madoc ringwork Lower Chapel, Breconshire' Brycheiniog Vol. 12 p. 131-2 online copy
  1968, Medieval Archaeology Vol. 12 p. 181 download copy
  Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124
  King, D.J.C., 1961, ‘The castles of Breconshire’ Brycheiniog Vol. 7 p. 88-9 no. 26 online copy
  St Joseph, J.K., 1958, Journal Roman Studies Vol. 48 p. 95 (where considered to be Roman Camp)

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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 28/06/2017 18:13:04

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