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Amroth Castle Park

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Long Furze; Earwere; Erwer; Eare Weare; Amroath; Ambroth; Amboth; Little Castle Park

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

OS Map Grid Reference: SN16390768
Latitude 51.73686° Longitude -4.66062°

Amroth Castle Park has been described as a probable Timber Castle, and also as a Masonry Castle although is doubtful that it was such.

There are earthwork remains.
Description

Little Castle Park is a low circular earthwork c. 30m diameter by c. 1m high with a discernible outer ditch best preserved on the west side. A trackway has been cut through the eastern edge of this monument at the top edge of a steep natural, wooded, slope which acts as a natural defence on that side. Elsewhere the topography is a south facing gentle slope in an improved pasture field at 80m above sea level. The field name for the site is ‘Little Castle Park’. The land is currently owned by the National Trust. (RR March 2009). A small mound, in the field called Castle Park adjoining the churchyard, that is traditionally thought to be the site of Earware (later Amroth) castle. The Royal Commission felt that the many old coal workings in this area made suspect the identification of this site as a castle mound. In contrast with this view, however, is that of the Ordnance Survey, who suggest that the presence of a ditch and the absence of a ramp makes it doubtful that this is a mound associated with coal working. The feature is clearly shown on the 1st edition 1:2500 Ordnance survey map. (MM March 2003). (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER)

The sub-circular/D-shaped mound at Amroth Castle measures 32m NW-SE by 27.5m and 1.2m high, resting on steep natural slopes to the north-east. Apparent traces of a ditch on the north-west may be associated with a recent field boundary. It is set in a field called 'Little Castle Park'. It is possibly a spoil heap, the site of Castlepark Colliery (shown as disused on OS County series (1889)) lying c.600m to the south, although a sounding taken in 1965 did not show distinctive colliery waste. (Coflein)

Motte by church no obvious remains. (King)
Comments

Hull writes there is dressed stone and possible foundations here, but this account does not fit with other descriptions of the site (mining spoil can look like cut stone). However, if correct, perhaps the stone gatehouse of Amroth Castle originated here.
Links to archaeological and architectural databases, mapping and other online resources

Data >
Coflein   County HER            
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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This record last updated before 1 February 2016
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