Llansteffan Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Llanstephan; St Stephen

In the community of Llansteffan.
In the historic county of Carmarthenshire (Modern authority of Carmarthenshire, preserved county of Dyfed).

Remains of a castle established in the earlier C12 within the site of an Iron Age promontory fort. Rebuilt in stone, and held by the de Camvilles for much of the Middle Ages. Substancial masonry castle.

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

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SN35141014

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; 95725

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 2197

• Web site links
  • http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=6&PlaceID=88
    http://www.castlewales.com/llanstef.html
    http://www.greatcastlesofwales.co.uk/llansteffan.htm
    http://www.acadat.com/HLC/EstuaryArea/area141.htm
• Books
  • Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p88-91 [plan and reconstruction]
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p55-7
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p99-100
    Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p38-41 [plan]
    Higham, R. and Barker, P., 1992, Timber Castles (Batsford) p190, 358
    Avent, J.R., 1991, 'The Early Development of Three Coastal Castles' in James,H. (ed), Sir Gar: Studies in Carmarthenshire History (Carmarthen) p167-188
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p58
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p262-3
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Waters, 1943, The Lordship of Llanstephan (Carmarthen) esp p13-9
    Richard, A.J., 1935, in Lloyd, J.E. (ed), History of Carmathenshire (Cardiff) Vol1 p284-5, 289-
    Oman, Charles W.C., 1926, Castles (1978 edn Beetham House: New York) p196-8
    RCAHMW, 1917, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Carmarthenshire (HMSO) p193-6
    Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p286-7
    Grose, Francis, 1787, The Antiquities of England and Wales (London) Vol7 p13-4
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 365
• Journal Articles
  • King, D.J.C., 1985, ‘Llanstephan Castle’, 132nd annual meeting, old Carmarthenshire, 1985, CAA p9–10
    (Guilbert, G.C. in) Webster, L.E. and Cherry, J., 1976, ‘Medieval Britain in 1975’, Medieval Archaeology Vol20 p186
    Guilbert, G.C., 1974, 'Llanstephan Castle: 1973 Interim Report' Carmarthenshire Antiquary Vol10 p37-48
    Guilbert, G.C. and Schweiso, J.J., 1972, 'Llanstephan Castle: An Interim Discussion of the 1971 Excavation' Carmarthenshire Antiquary Vol8 p75-90
    (Guilbert, G.C.), 1972, Medieval Archaeology Vol16 p186
    (Murray-Threipland), 1970, Medieval Archaeology Vol14 p179
    King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Chateau Gaillard Vol3 p90-127
    (Murray-Threipland), 1968, Medieval Archaeology Vol12 p181-2
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    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
    Taylor, 1948-9, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol100 p129-31
    1928, West Wales Historical Records Vol13 p33-152
    1927, West Wales Historical Records Vol12 p59-132
    Williams, Sir John, 1907, Archaeologia Cambrensis [ser6] Vol7 p108-18
    Morgan, 1907, Archaeologia Cambrensis [ser6] Vol7 p214-5
• Guidebooks
  • Humphries, Peter, 2001, Llansteffan Castle (CADW)
    Humphries, Peter, 1988, Llansteffan Castle (CADW)
    King, D.J.C., 1963, Llanstephan Castle (HMSO)
    Anon, 1922, Llanstephan Castle (Carmarthen)
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/glameng.html#caerm4]