Tomen Bedd Urge, Llanddewi Ystradenny

Description

Tomen Bedd-Ugre is a ditched motte, 34m in diameter and 6.0m high, set at the apex of an oval embanked and ditched bailey, c.38m by 56m. There are possible traces of a rectangular range, c.26m E- by 10m, in the bailey, before the motte. (Coflein)

Motte 6m high. 34m base dia. surrounding ditch 1m deep oval bailey to S with slightly inturned entrace in S. Castle was perhaps built by Cadwallon. In style this castle appears Welsh because it sits high on a hill top rather than low in a valley like Norman castles of this time. A rectangular crop-mark, some distance from the motte possibly marks the site of the llys, or local royal hall (Remfry, P, 1998, 11). Motte and Bailey castle located at the southern end of a south facing ridge with slopes falling to the west and south and to the Ithon Valley to the east. It is well preserved apart from modern damage caused by sheep. The motte is surrounded on the East, south and west sides by a well-defined ditch, elsewhere it has become infilled by cultivation. There are 2 narrow causeways crossing the ditch at the south and south-west. The bailey to the south is well-defined with an entrance from the south. Within the bailey at a point opposite the south-west causeway of the motte ditch is a slight earthwork approx 12m SW-NE x 5m SE-NW which may be a hut platform (Cadw, 1999). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period. A motte and bailey castle comprises a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil or stone (the motte) surrounded by, or adjacent to, one or more embanked enclosures (the bailey). Both may be surrounded by wet or dry ditches and could be further strengthened with palisades, revetments, and/or a tower on top of the motte. Tomen Bedd-Ugre is a ditched motte, set on a prominent local summit with wide views to the south. It measures 34m in diameter and 6.0m in height, and is surrounded on the east, south and west by a ditch c.1.0m deep which has narrow causeways crossing it on the south and south-west. The motte lies at the apex of an oval bailey, which is defended by a bank and ditch and measures c.38m by 56m, with a slightly inturned entrance on the south. Within the bailey at a point opposite the south-west causeway of the motte ditch is a slight earthwork measuring c.12m south-west to north-east by 5m, which may be a hut platform. (Scheduling Report)