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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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Twyn Castell, Gelligaer

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Cadwallon

In the community of Gelligaer.
In the historic county of Glamorgan.
Modern authority of Caerphilly.
Preserved county of Mid Glamorgan.

OS Map Grid Reference: ST13689694
Latitude 51.66456° Longitude -3.24946°

Twyn Castell, Gelligaer has been described as a certain Timber Castle, and also as a probable Palace.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
Description

This motte is tree-covered, but otherwise quite untouched. This is a large steep sided motte, with a flat top. There is a narrow path on its N side. (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust HER)

A sub-circular, steep-sided, flat-topped mound measuring 27m across at base, 18m (E-W) by 11m at top, and 6.6m high on the E but only 3.2m high on the W. No signs of masonry and no remains of a surrounding ditch or bailey. Erosion has exposed earth and large boulders in the mound. The castle mound would have been crowned by a great timber-framed tower and would have been associated with a princely court or llys, presumably belonging to the princes of Senghenydd. (Coflein)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte 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. Twyn Castell is a large steep-sided motte, with a flat top with a diameter measuring 15m. (Scheduling Report)
Comments

Small and asymmetrical, this motte has been attributed to the Welsh rulers of the mountain commotes of Senghennydd. May be the castle of Cadwallon held by the Crown in 1196-7.
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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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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This record last updated 06/07/2016 18:42:33
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