Ancient Monuments

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Great House Mound & Bailey Castle

A Scheduled Monument in Gwernyfed, Powys

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Coordinates

Latitude: 52.0348 / 52°2'5"N

Longitude: -3.2085 / 3°12'30"W

OS Eastings: 317193

OS Northings: 238067

OS Grid: SO171380

Mapcode National: GBR YX.FYKW

Mapcode Global: VH6BP.B3MY

Entry Name: Great House Mound & Bailey Castle

Scheduled Date:

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 1735

Cadw Legacy ID: BR080

Schedule Class: Defence

Category: Motte & Bailey

Period: Medieval

County: Powys

Community: Gwernyfed

Traditional County: Brecknockshire

Description

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period. The site is keyhole shaped in plan and located on the end of a small bluff which is surrounded on three sides by water meadows bordering the Afon Llynfi. The motte has a base diameter of 34m, is 6m high and has a flat summit 16m in diameter. The bailey lies to the E of the motte and measures 50m by 30m. It is separated from the motte by a the filled-in remains of a ditch, and is bounded by natural slopes to the N and S. An original causewayed entrance crosses the moat on the S side.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval defensive organisation. The well-preserved monument forms an important element within the wider medieval context and the structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information relating to chronology, building techniques and functional detail.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.

Source: Cadw

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