Caer Dynnaf, Llygod Old Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Old Llanbeddian; Llanblethian Castle; Llanblethian Hill; St Quintin's

In the community of Cowbridge With Llanblethian.
In the historic county of Glamorgan (Modern authority of Vale of Glamorgan, preserved county of South Glamorgan).

At the east End of Iron Age hill fort, an annexe is isolated by a cross-bank and ditch. In medieval times, the northern third of this annexe was isolated by another cross-bank, and a substantial masonry building was raised within the resulting enclosure. Frequently suggested as a castle by earlier sources (and some later ones) but no contemporary documentary evidence for this being a castle. Spurgeon writes the masonry remains are of a domestic building, probably a first floor hall house. He rejects this as a castle. However, this is clearly a high status building in a defended position. Was this a hunting lodge?

This site has been described as a;
Masonry Castle
Timber Castle
Fortified Manor House.
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 SS98527428

Sources of information, references and further reading

Books

Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p113
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1
Merrick, R. (James, B.L. (ed)), 1983, Morganiae Archaiographia: A Book of the Antiquites of Glamorgan (Barry Island) p76, 137
RCAHMW, 1982, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan Vol3 pt2: Secular Non-defensive Monuments (London: HMSO) MH23 [The masonry house]
RCAHMW, 1976, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan Vol1 pt2 (London: HMSO) No670 p40-1[The Iron Age fort and earthworks]
Hague, D.B., 1971, in Pugh, T.B. (ed), Glamorgan County History Vol3 The Middle Ages (Cardiff) p441
Hopkin-James, 1922, Old Cowbridge (Cardiff) p13-8
Owen, G. (Pritchard, E.M. (ed)), 1906, The Taylors Cussion (1552-1613) (London) p99-100
Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 p402

Journal Articles

Spurgeon, C.J. with Roberts, D.J. and Thomas, H.J., 1999, 'Supposed Castles in Glamorgan; A review' Archaeology in Wales Vol39 27-40
Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
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
Clark, G.T., 1878, 'Manorial particulars of the county of Glamorgan (pt2)' Archaeologia Cambrensis [ser4]Vol9 p15
'Antiquarius', 1785, 'Castles and antiquities in Glamorganshire' Gentlemans Magazine Vol55 p936

Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)

Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1910, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (Bell and Sons; London) Vol5 p241 [perhaps]

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant

The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales, the four welsh archaeological trusts and other indivduals and organisations.

It is an offence to disturb a Scheduled Ancient Monument without consent. It is a destruction of everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from any site without proper recording and reporting. Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation.

Please help me to make this as useful a resource as possible by contacting me if you see errors or if you can add information.
I do acknowledge the help I get with this site.

¤¤¤¤¤