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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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Dinham Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;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

In the community of Caerwent.
In the historic county of Monmouthshire.
Modern authority of Monmouthshire.
Preserved county of Gwent.

OS Map Grid Reference: ST48029234
Latitude 51.62754° Longitude -2.75215°

Dinham Castle has been described as a probable Masonry Castle.

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
Description

A collection of stone building remains and enclosures resting above the slopes of a combe to the west, set in and around a round-ended walled enclosure, some 58m east-west by 28m: some of the remains have been interpreted as being those of a tower, however there is nothing in the site plan to suggest a castle. (RCAHMW)

The ruins of a small, square keep, similar to that at Penhow Castle, and other walls, assigned to the C13, within a wood. (Newman)

The monument consists of the remains of a castle, dating to the medieval period. The castle is situated in woodland on the E side of a small valley with a steep drop to the valley bottom on the W and S sides. On the N side, below the castle, is a wide shallow ditch 0.5m deep, which runs NW down the slope. On parts of the inners side low footings of a wall are visible. The castle itself is situated on the top of the slope to the W and S, 3m above the ditch. At the N end of the site are the remains of a rectangular stone-built building measuring 14m N/S by 7m, containing two rooms. To the S of the rectangular building is a T-shaped wall standing up to 1.8m high. This is rubble-built and has been spread. On the S side of the wall is a level platform, and on the S side of the platform are the remains of a second rectangular structure. On the E side of the site are faint traces of a bank. The history of the site is obscure, although it is known that there was a church on this location in the 12th century. (Scheduling Report)
Comments

Gatehouse thanks Guy Hamilton for pointing out a previous erroneous description of this site and the error in the Castles of Wales site description.
Phillips records the site as entirely overgrown, but that the history suggests a small masonry castle or tower 'built to ensure the rights of the forest' of Wentwood. No evidence of an earlier timber castle.
Links to archaeological and architectural databases, mapping and other online resources

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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 07/07/2016 08:23:33
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