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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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Castell Mael, Puncheston

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Castell Moel; Punchesterton

In the community of Puncheston.
In the historic county of Pembrokeshire.
Modern authority of Pembrokeshire.
Preserved county of Dyfed.

OS Map Grid Reference: SN00982975
Latitude 51.93063° Longitude -4.89613°

Castell Mael, Puncheston has been described as a probable Timber Castle.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

Description

This is a horse-shoe shaped work standing immediately east of the parish church, and on the parish boundary, near the river Anghof which skirts the steep slope that forms the defence to the east. It is protected by a much- disturbed rampart which, rising at its best to 6 feet, falls about 12 feet to a ditch that now is largely filled in. The summit of the slope may have carried a mound of which faint traces may be detected. The length of the slope is about 220 feet; the rock has been scarped in places. The entrance was midway in the rampart; it has been ruined. A school-house has been erected within the enclosed area. (RCAHMW, 1925)

Castell Mael is an oval enclosure, measuring c.84m NE-SW by 58m. It occupies a promontory above a stream confluence, resting on steep scarps except on the east, where the entrance is set in a single bank. (Coflein)
Comments

Large ringwork and, therefore, a possible Iron Age fort in origin - although this does not exclude medieval reuse of the site. King writes "Partial ringwork of a large area at the junction of two valleys. A foundation of boulders on the top of the bank."
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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This record last updated 03/07/2016 20:15:28


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