Caer Beris Motte

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Llangantan; Llanganten

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

A mound, 42m in diameter and 7.0m high, 20m in diameter at the summit, resting on river cliffs above the Irfon. There are remains of a ditch away from the river front, whilst the summit hollow has been thought to mask masonry remains.Caer Beris seems to represent the first castle in the cantref of Buellt, probably built by Philip Braose in 1093. In 1098-1102 the archbishop of Canterbury instructed him to return to the bishop of St David's those lands he had wrongfully occupied. This almost certainly refers to Philip's encroachments in Buellt. The castle then seems to have remained in quiet occupation by the Braose family for almost a century. During this time it seems likely, judging from the pit and rubble seen on the motte-top, that the castle was refortified in stone. In 1168 the Lord Rhys invaded Brycheiniog and destroyed the castle. From this time forth it was out of Braose hands. The castle seems never to have recovered and was replaced by Builth Wells.

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 SO02965070

Web site links

http://www.castlewales.com/builth1.html
http://www.castles99.ukprint.com/Essays/builth.html

Books

Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p17
Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p18
Remfry, Paul, 1998. Castles of Breconshire (Logaston Press) p188 [plan]
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p19
Jones, Theophilius, 1898, A History of the County of Brecknock (Brecknock) Vol2 p293-4

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
King, D.J.C., 1961, ‘The castles of Breconshire’ Brycheiniog Vol7 p89-90

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Caer Beris Motte

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO02965070

Sources of information, references and further reading