Domen Fawr, Tafolwern (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Walwerin; Walwern; Waluernia; Walwar; Talfolwern

In the community of Llanbrynmair.
In the historic county of Montgomeryshire.
Modern authority of Powys.
Preserved county of Powys.

OS Map Grid Reference: SH89100263
Latitude 52.61014° Longitude -3.63919°

Domen Fawr, Tafolwern has been described as a certain Timber Castle.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

Description

Motte, 6m high and 40m diameter at base, 29m at top. It stands at the confluence of the rivers Iaen and Twymyn with the bailey built on an interfluvial spit65m by 50m. A step 2m by 2m cut into the north of the motte. Now damaged by modern road. The first historical reference to the site is in AD 1149 when itwas granted to Owain Cyfeiliog , the final reference is in AD1244. (Owen, W G 1996d, 5). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust)

Low-lying motte between Afon Twymyn and Afon Rhiw Saeson (which may have been dammed to form moats) was probably built by Owain Cyfeiliog, who was granted Cyfeiliog commote in 1149 by his uncle Madog ap Maredudd. When the latter died in 1160, his relatives quarrelled among themselves and in the confusion Cyfeiliog was taken over by Owain Gwynedd. The castle, which formed the chief seat of the commote, was captured in 1162 by Hywel ap Ieuaf, Lord of Arwystli. Owain raided Arwystli, defeated Hywel, and rebuilt Talfolwern Castle. It was occupied by Owain's son Gwenwynwyn in the later C12 and is last mentioned when Owain's grandson Gruffydd was isolated there in 1244 by a Welsh army because of his support for Henry III, and John le Strange wrote to the King urging his help. (Salter)

A motte and bailey castle comprises a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil or stone (the motte) surrounded by, or adjacent to, one or more embanked enclosures (the bailey). Both may be surrounded by wet or dry ditches and could be further strengthened with palisades, revetments, and/or a tower on top of the motte. Domen Fawr Tafolwern was the castle of the Welsh prince and poet Owern Cyfeiliog (d. AD1197). The motte stands at the confluence of two rivers, with roads running around its base on the north-west and south-east sides. It stands to a height of c.6m and measures 40m in diamter at its base, and 19m across the summit. Mill Cottage has been built within the bailey enclosure, and the line of the ditch is now obscured. (Scheduling Report)

Sources of information, references and further reading

The CADW scheduled monument record number is MG065.
The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s) for this site is/are 303321.
The County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) for this site is/are 1309.

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. 246 (listed)
  Davis, Paul R., 2007, Castles of the Welsh Princes (Y Lolfa) p. 90
  Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p. 52
  Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 152
  Davis, Paul R., 1988, Castles of the Welsh Princes (Swansea)
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 300
  Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 338
  Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p. 301 online copy
  RCAHMW, 1911, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Montgomeryshire (HMSO) p. 65 no. 311 online copy
Periodical Articles
- Kenyon, John R., 1996, 'Fluctuating Frontiers: Normanno-Welsh Castle Warfare c. 1075 to 1240' Château Gaillard Vol. 17 p. 119-126
  Spurgeon, C.J., 1966, ‘The castles of Montgomeryshire’ Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 59 p. 10-11 online copy
  Spurgeon, C.J., 1966, ‘Carneddau Hill' Archaeology in Wales Vol. 6 p. 10-11
  Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132 (survived into C13 without being rebuilt in stone)
  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
  Clark, G.T., 1889, 'Contribution towards a complete list of moated mounds or burhs' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 46 p. 197-217 esp. 217 online copy
  Williams, R., 1888, 'A history of the parish of Llanbrynmair' Montgomeryshire Collections Vol. 22 p. 313 online copy
Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete, particularly for the major royal castles and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
- Brut y Tywysogion 1162, 1167 (Several transcriptions and translations exist the best being Jones, T., 1952, Brut Y Twysogion (University of Wales, History and Law series 11)–based on the Peniarth MS 20 version. There is a flawed translation Williams ab Ithel, John, 1860, Brut Y Twysogion or The Chronicle of the Princes (Rolls Series) online copy)
  Williams (ab Ithel), John, (ed), 1860, Annales Cambriae (444 – 1288) (London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts)s.a. 1168 online copy
  Edwards, J.G. (ed), 1935, Calendar of Ancient Correspondence Concerning Wales p. 21
  Shirley, W.W., 1862, Royal and other historical letters illustrative of the reign of Henry III (Rolls Series 27) Vol. 2 p. 38 online copy
Other sources: Theses; 'grey' literature; in-house reports; unpublished works; etc.
- Owen, W.G., 1996, Llandinam-Llanwrin Pipeline - Stage 2: archaeological assessment (CPAT report)

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