Alisby Castle, Crickhowell

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Crucywel; Crug Hywel

In the community of Crickhowell.
In the historic county of Brecknockshire (Modern authority of Powys, preserved county of Powys).

Originally a simple motte and bailey built by the De Turbervilles, Crickhowell was remodelled in stone in 1272 by Sir Grimbald Pauncefote. He added a simple shell keep, little of which can be seen today. Still quite visible, however, are the twin-towered gatehouse and a double tower in the eastern end. As with so many Norman castles, Crickhowell suffered at the hands of Owain Glyndwr, and it seems that the castle was never rebuilt. A shell keep was formerly noted upon an oval motte, c.60m by 46m and c.8.0m high, originally ditched, which has remains of a twin-towered gatehouse opening onto a scarped forecourt, c.70m by 16m, with remains of two conjoined towers to the E, set into a bailey, c.90m by 64m, now largely obscured.

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle
Masonry Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Masonry ruins/remnants remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Listed but grading unknown listed building protected by law*.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO21751825

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; 92110

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 72145, 35918

• Web site links
  • http://www.castlewales.com/crickhwl.html
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p24-5 [plan]
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p13
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p72
    Remfry, Paul, 1998. Castles of Breconshire (Logaston Press) p162-5 [plan]
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p18
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p345
    Oman, Charles W.C., 1926, Castles (1978 edn Beetham House: New York) p169
    Clark, G.T., 1884, Medieval Military Architecture in England  (Wyman and Sons) Vol2 p504 [Reprint of 1876 Arch. Camb. article]
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 p354
• Journal Articles
  • Locock. M., 1994. Archaeological Field Evaluation Alidby's Castle. Crickhowell. Powys. GGAT
    Locock. M., 1994. ‘Crickhowell Castle’. Archaeology in Wales 34. 61
    Owen, W.G., 1992. Archaeological Evaluation of Play Area at Crickhowell Castle. Powys. CPAT report
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    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, D.J.C., 1961, ‘The castles of Breconshire’ Brycheiniog Vol7 p76-7
    Brown, R, Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol74 [Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press)] pp90-121
    Clark, George Thomas, 1876, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol7 p283-4