Castell Abersoch (The Gatehouse Record)

Castell Abersoch

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Castell Aber-Soch; Hen Gaer; Castellmarch

In the community of Llanengan.
In the historic county of Caernarfonshire.
Modern authority of Gwynedd.
Preserved county of Gwynedd.

OS Map Grid Reference: SH31362855
Latitude 52.82797° Longitude -4.50401°

Castell Abersoch has been described as a probable Timber Castle.

There are cropmark/slight earthwork remains.

Description

An enclosure noted in 1871 and 1917, is presently obscurred, mutilated and built-over. A sketch plan of 1817 records an enclosure resting on an angle of steep natural slopes, c.37.5m N-S & 23m NW-SE, otherwise delineated by a crescentic stony bank and one or more ditches. Present (1975) remains may represent only natural scarps. (Coflein–ref. J.Wiles 12.03.03)

Castell Abersoch has been almost obliterated in the north and west by building and landscaping ditch in the NW visible in 1903 has been almost filled in. The top measures 110ft from SW to NE and the ditch is 54ft wide, although dimensions may not represent original form. Several stone hammers were found when the 19th century turnpike was built (RCAHMW). Only the scarp slope on the east and south remains, the rest has been destroyed by building and landscaping. A stone retaining wall has been built in the south side of the motte, also digging has taken place in the west (OS record). The condition of the motte has stabilized as a front garden. Only the S and E quadrants were viewed. Nowhere is the ditch visible now, and a large part of the edge of the mound has been truncated by a road and retaining wall to the east and by housing and associated development around the south. The top now holds a house/drive etc (the latter cuts through the NE quadrant of the mound) but the general profile when viewed from the beach can still be made out. No immediate threat but enough left to dig and get results in the future (house owner willing, which is unlikely). Castell Abersoch, largely destroyed by road construction and by housing, partly stabilised as a front garden. Several stone hammers are said to have been found when the turnpike was built in the 19th century. (Gwynedd Archaeological Trust HER)

Sources of information, references and further reading

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s) for this site is/are 302288.
The County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) for this site is/are 1239.

Books
- Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p. 49 (slight)
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 54
  RCAHMW, 1964, A Survey and Inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Caernarvonshire Vol. 3: West (HMSO) p. 63 no. 1626 online copy
Periodical Articles
- Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124

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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 before 1 February 2016

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