Blaenporth Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Castell Gwythan; Ralphs Castle; Y Gaer; Blaen Porth Hodnant; Castell Gwithian; Brynawelan

In the community of Aberporth.
In the historic county of Cardiganshire (Modern authority of Ceredigion, preserved county of Dyfed).

Minor Norman motte-and-bailey taken and destroyed by the Welsh in 1215. A rather irregular enclosure, c.110m E-W by 85m, rests on steep natural scarps above minor stream valleys, otherwise defined by a ditch and rampart, currently much degraded, on the SW and S. On the E is an oval mound, c.40m NE-SW by 37m, 4.4-7.0m high, havig a dished oval summit. Occupies a subrectangular areas, c.32m across, at the foot of the mound, that may have been the site of an inner enclosure. There are indications of a curvilinear ditched enclosure, c.40m across, set within the E part of the enclosed area. Possible borough enclosure.

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle
Urban Defence.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Earthworks remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SN26544886

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

National Monuments Record number; 93916

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 5220

• Web site links
  • http://www.castlewales.com/gilbert.html
• Books
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p41
    Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p27
    Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p46 [slight]
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p44
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p326
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p282
• Journal Articles
  • (Spurgeon), 1970, Medieval Archaeology Vol14 p179
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol112 p77-124
    King, 1956, Ceredigion Vol3 p55-6