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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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Plas yn Dinas, Llansantffraid

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
manerium de Dynas

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

OS Map Grid Reference: SJ21821896
Latitude 52.76250° Longitude -3.15998°

Plas yn Dinas, Llansantffraid has been described as a probable Timber Castle, and also as a certain Fortified Manor House.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
Description

A rectangular enclosure, about 100m north-east to south-west by 70m, set on the summit of a natural hillock, above the flood plain of the Afon Vyrnwy: the north-west and north-east sides rest on steep slopes, the enclosure being defined elsewhere by a double bank with a medial ditch: thought to have been the caput of the manor of Dynas, mentioned in the 14th century: 'tooled stonework' has been noted within the enclosure. (Coflein)

Rectangular enclosure atop isolated moraine encircled by old ox bow. The multiple defences consist of an inner bank reduced to a scarp. No traces of internal building. Rectangular enclosure enclosing 0.44ha. (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

Plas-yn-Dinas (SJ 218189) is first recorded in the 14th century, as the residence of the lords of the mesne manor of Dynas in Mechain Iscoed, and although again a site which has been classed as a moated site, it is by no means a typical example. A rectangular earthwork, enclosing 0.44 ha (1.09 acres), is set around the summit of a prominent glacial moraine, and almost completely surrounded by a marshy former loop ofthe R. Vyrnwy, which now cuts across the narrow neck about 100 m further E. The moraine has steep natural slopes to the NE. and NW., which form those flanks of the enclosure, the latter artificially scarped towards its crest. Lesser slopes to the SW. and SE. have been scarped down to a ditch, the quarried material forming a counterscarp bank. Its natural wet defences and the dominant position of the enclosure on the moraine are reminiscent ofCwrt Llechrhyd; there are, however, no other reasons to suggest a Dark-Age date: it lies 5 km W. of Offa's Dyke, well beyond any suspected Mercian settlement. (Spurgeon 1988)

The monument comprises the remains of an earthwork/stone-built enclosure. The date or precise nature of the enclosure is unknown, but it is likely to be medieval. The monument forms a rectangular enclosure, about 100m north-east to south-west by 70m, set on the summit of a natural hillock, above the flood plain of the Afon Vyrnwy: the north-west and north-east sides rest on steep slopes, the enclosure being defined elsewhere by a double bank with a medial ditch. (Scheduling Report)
Comments

Defensive enclosure of possible dark age origin used up to C14. King writes probably a strong house rather than a castle.
Links to archaeological and architectural databases, mapping and other online resources

Data >
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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This record last updated 07/07/2016 08:59:52
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