Tan y Castell

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Aberrheidol; Rhyd y Felin; Llanychaiarn; Tyn y Castell; Tan y Bwlch; Old Aberystwyth

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

Ringwork and bailey probably raised by Gilbert de Clare in 1110. Ramparts lined in stone at somepoint. Changed hands on many occasions in C12 and C13 and probably finally destroyed in 1221 to be eventually replaced by Aberystwyth Castle a mile north. Large ringwork castle on the back of a ridge, with a bailey 120ft long running along the ridge, ringwork measures 90ft by 70ft. externally.

This site has been described as a;
Masonry Castle
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 SN58517900

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; 301795

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 769

• Web site links
  • http://www.castlewales.com/aberrhei.html
    http://www.castlewales.com/gilbert.html
• Books
  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p25-6
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p37
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p55
    Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p12
    Higham, R. and Barker, P., 1992, Timber Castles (Batsford)
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p47, 48, 558-9
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p323
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Owen, Henry (ed), 1936, The Description of Pembrokeshire (London) Vol4 p427-8
    Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p281-2
    Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol3 (London) p474
• Journal Articles
  • Houlder, C.J., 1977, ‘Tanycastell ring and bailey (Old Aberystwyth)’, 124th Annual Meeting in Abeystwyth, South Montgomery and North Radnor, CAA, 1977 p14-15
    Griffiths, R.A., 1977, ‘The three castles at Aberystwyth’, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol126 p74-87
    King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Chateau Gaillard Vol3 p90-127
    Talbot, E.J., 1966, Appendix II in Alcock, L., 'Castle Tower, Penmaen: a Norman ringwork in Glamorgan Antiquarian Journal Vol44 p207
    (Houlder, C.J.), 1964, Medieval Archaeology Vol8 p261
    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
    (Houlder, C.J.), 1962-3, Medieval Archaeology Vol6-7 p325
    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
    (Houlder, C.J.), 1959, Medieval Archaeology Vol5 p309
    (Houlder, C.J.), 1957, Medieval Archaeology Vol1 p158
    Houlder, C.J., 1957, 'Recent Excavations in Old Aberystwyth' Ceredigion Vol3 p114-7
    King, 1956, Ceredigion Vol3 p65
    Wright, 1912, Aberystwyth Studies Vol1 p115-25