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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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Picton Motte, The Belvedere

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Dungledi

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

OS Map Grid Reference: SN01621352
Latitude 51.78508° Longitude -4.87749°

Picton Motte, The Belvedere has been described as a certain Timber Castle.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
Description

A Norman motte castle was placed at the summit of gently rising ground about half a mile east of the present castellated residence. It occupies almost certainly the site of the castle of ' Dungledi,' erected by Wiz or Wizo, a Fleming, who early in the 12th century was granted by Henry I the lordship of Daugleddau, the land between the two Cleddau. There are no indications that the original wooden defences ever gave place to others in stone, and it is clear that about a century and a half after its erection it was deserted for the fine 13th-century castle, which was placed in a more sheltered position below it. The mound is about 24 feet high, and has a summit diameter of about 50 feet. The moat still remains, though made more shallow by subsequent disturbances to the mound. The bailey was probably on the north side. (RCAHMW, 1925)

A tapering oval mound, depicted on OS County series (Pembroke. XXVIII.10 1889), c.58m E-W by 40m, havind a roughly circular, level summit, c.20m in diameter, approached by a ramp from the W. A N-S ditch curves around the mound to the E, leaving a c.5.0 wide terrace on this side. The mound is first depicted in 1773, topped by a square building, possibly the domed summer house, or pavilion, under construction 1729-30. This structure was demolished by 1889; OS Landline depicting a 10m N-S by 5.0m structure upon the summit. A passageway, currently blocked, possibly a grotto, or the 'gallery' mentioned in 1729-30, is set within the body of the mound. Source: CADW 2002 (Parks & Gardens of Wales; Pembrokeshire), 281-2. (Coflein)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and ditch, dating to the medieval period (c. 1066 -1540 AD). A motte is a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil and/or stone, usually surrounded by either a wet or dry ditch, and surmounted by a tower constructed of timber or stone. Picton Castle motte measures 60ft across the top and 20ft high. There are two huge water tanks on top of the mound, and pipes go down into it. There is a tunnel on west side. (Scheduling Report)
Comments

Damaged large motte. 7m high oval summit up to 24m across, damaged by insertion of grotto in one side and placing of now demolished ?summerhouse on top.
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 09:30:05
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