Stephens Castle, The College, Lampeter

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Llan Ystyffan; Castell Pont Steffan; Castell Pont Stuffan; Castle of Mabwynion; Llanbedr; Pont Stephen

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

Built in the Norman expansion into Wales in the late 1080`s, Lampeter is on one of the main trade routes through to the North of Wales and so the Market town of Lampeter emerges over time. The Castle is razed in the 1130`s by a Welsh raid and is never rebuilt. appox 100 feet wide at the bottom and 20-25 feet at the top. The lost bailey has been suggestioned to orientate towards the local church, St.Peters. This is the usual site given for the castle of Mabwynion recorded as held by the Welsh 1154-8, Clare earl Hertford 1158-1165 and then by the Welsh again. However, see also Castell Mabwinion (SN485519)

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle.
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 SN57934827

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; 303859

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 779

• Web site links
  • http://www.castlewales.com/lampeter.html
    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) p34, 44
    Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p46 [slight]
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p45, 48
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p361
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Owen, Henry (ed), 1936, The Description of Pembrokeshire (London) Vol4 p492, 494
    Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p283-4
    Meyrick, Samuel Rush, 1907, The History and Antiquities of the County of Cardigan (Brecon) p219
• Journal Articles
  • 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
    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
    King, 1956, Ceredigion Vol3 p57, 69