Mill Wood Motte, Dingestow

Description

Mill Wood Castle is a ditched mound, c.32m in diameter and 5.0m high, is set at the end of a slight natural promontory at the confluence of two streams. To the north a bank and ditch cut across the promontory, segregating an enclosure, c.34m by 55m. (Coflein)

A jungle of undergrowth now defends this large motte, but even if this prevents a closer look a good impression can be gained from the footpath. It is a typical Norman motte, circular and steep-sided, with ditches on the north and south sides. A causeway across the ditch in the north-west corner may indicate an entrance. The bailey was probably on the south side, delineated by an outer bank. The motte is in a good defensive position, with a steep drop to the river Trothy on one side and a dry ravine on the other. Strategically, it was positioned to secure the Monmouth-Raglan corridor into south Wales, and to guard the crossing of the river Trothy. The castle was the precursor of a larger, stone-built one, the site of which is the large rectangular mound to the west of the church (Dingestow). This was under construction in 1182 by Ranulf Poer, sheriff of Herefordshire, when it was attacked by Hywel ap Iorwerth, the Welsh lord of Caerleon, as part of his retaliation for the murder of Seisyllt ap Dyfnwal at Abergavenny Castle in 1175 by William de Braose. (Whittle, 1992)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and ditch, dating to the medieval period (c. 1066 -1540 AD). The site consists of a large, steep sided mound 40m in diameter and 7m high, located on the E bank of the River Trothy. The summit of the mound is flat and 12m in diameter. On the N side is a ditch 3m wide and 2m deep with a causeway on the NW side. On the S side is a ditch 0.7m deep with a large bank, 2m high, on the external side. The history of the site is largely unknown, although it is thought to be the precursor of Dingestow Castle (MM113) located 300m to the E. (Scheduling Report)