Martletwy Upper Castle and Hallwalls (The Gatehouse Record)

Martletwy Upper Castle and Hallwalls

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Land of Green Ginger

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

OS Map Grid Reference: SN030105
Latitude 51.75917° Longitude -4.85472°

Martletwy Upper Castle and Hallwalls has been described as a Timber Castle although is doubtful that it was such.

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains.

Description

The parish church of Martletwy may be a pre-conquest ecclesiastical foundation. It was granted, with a significant tract of land in the north of the parish, to the Knights Hospitaller at Slebech by the Lord of the Manor John FitzRaymond de Martletwy, during the 12th century. The remainder of the manor comprised one knight’s fee in 1362 when it was held of the barony. Place-name evidence may indicate the presence of a motte castle. (Dyfed Archaeological Trust Historic Landscape Characterisation Martletwy)

On a field called Upper Castle (Tithe Schedule, No. 184), some 300 yards north-west of the parish church, are two low circular mounds. That to the south has a circumference of 120 feet, and a height of 4 feet; it does not appear to have been disturbed. The second, about 25 yards to the north, is 150 feet in circumference and about 2 feet high. It has been slightly dug into from the summit. Both are grass covered, and are probably sepulchral. (RCAHMW)

What appears to be the remains of a large rectangular building represented by one wall, a corner and the remains of a terraced platform. Later cottages, (ruined) built over area. The owner is in the process of landscaping i.e. clearing rubble and re-pointing walls, A small area of rubble left adjacent to the wall of the large rectangular building has the possibility of original levels sealed beneath it. The site is south of Martletwy church and the place-name 'Hallewalles' is noted in 1681 (Picton castle deeds, NLW), all suggestive of a former Manor house. (Dyfed Archaeological Trust HER)

Comments

Gatehouse can see no real reason to doubt the Commission view of these mounds as tumuli. The mounds are not shown on the OS map and are not obvious on air photo.

Coflein record 22027 for Hallwalls at SN03331050 reads; 'Small building foundations with walls up to 1 metre high. Possibly ruins of 16th or 17th century manor house.' This is likely to be the site of the medieval manor house and knights residence. Upper Castle was probably a field name for a holding in the demense of this manor house. There is nothing to suggest a motte here or the manor being fortified. The term castle can be used in medieval documents and later documents for a unfortified administrative centre.

Sources of information, references and further reading

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s) for this site is/are 22027 (Hallwalls).
The County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) for this site is/are 3599 (Hallwalls).

Websites (Gatehouse is not responsible for the content of external websites.)
- Dyfed Archaeological Trust, 1998-, Historic Landscape Characterisation
Books
- RCAHMW, 1925, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Pembrokeshire (HMSO) p. 218, 219 no. 661 and 663 online copy

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This record last updated before 1 February 2016

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