Llys Gwenllian

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Llanrhaiadr yn Cinmerch

In the community of Denbigh.
In the historic county of Denbighshire (Modern authority of Denbighshire, preserved county of Clwyd).

Rectangular bailey with low moated mound. Overlooks a steep drop to the Afon Ystrad. Farm buildings have badly mutilated its low motte and rectangular bailey, making the layout hard to observe. Has been suggested as an unlikely precussor to Denbigh. A roughly rectangular enclosure, c.75m by 54m, with a possibly ditched, rather polygonal motte, 24-25m in diameter and 6.5m high, at its SW end. The whole is defined by a ditch, with counterscarps on the NW and SW sides, and possible outworks on the NE; c.140m by 90m overall and obscured by farm buildings. Associated with a daughter of Llewelyn ap Iorwerth.

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

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SJ05646440

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; 306646

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 100600

• Web site links
  • http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_wales/116/llysgwenlliancastle.htm
• Books
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p69
    Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p76
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p104
    RCAHMW, 1914, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Denbighshire (HMSO) p135-6
• 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