Castell Gronw, Bala

Description

A mound identified as a medieval castle site, situated on the south bank of the Dee where it leaves Bala Lake. This is a mutilated generally circular mound, roughly 20-23m in diameter and 4.5m high, with a level summit some 9.0m across. There is no trace of a ditch. A curving boundary ditch to the south-west is thought to represent a bailey enclosure roughly 25-35m deep. However, nowhere else in the county has a bailey attached to a castle mound been identified. The name has been linked to Goronwy ab Ednyfed Fychan, steward to Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, who died in 1268. The main castle of Penllyn was across the river at Bala and the status and indeed the very identification of this mound are unclear. (Coflein–John Wiles 10.07.07)

A motte situated in the garden of Pen y Bont cottage. It is 23m in diameter at thr base, between 4 and 4.5m high, and 10m diameter across the top. the north and east sides of the mound are terminated by retaining walls over 1m high, which mark the boundaey of the cottage on the east and the pavement on the north. The north side of the motte has been planted with flowering shrubs and other garden plants; the remaining side are mainly grass covered, although the remains of a flower bed are visible on the south side. A concrete pad 2.5m by 2m has been laid on the top of the mound. The septic tanks which serve the cottage lie 8m to the south of the base of the motte. A wooded area west of the motte is thought to be the site of the bailey. This area is bounded by a stream lying in a gully 2m deep on the west and south sides. The remains of a slight scarp or ditch are visible running in a south westerly direction from the motte, but it turns south before reaching the gully. (Scheduling Report)