Castell Nos, Aberdare

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Castelle Nose

In the community of Aberdare.
In the historic county of Glamorgan (Modern authority of Rhondda Cynon Taff, preserved county of Mid Glamorgan).

The SE end of an isolated eminence 35m (N-S) by 12m, an entirely natural hillock, rocky except for the small oval flat top which has been scarped and ditched on the N and W. Traces of a possible bailey lie to the NW. There is no historical record of the motte which is possibly a medieval Welsh attempt to construct a motte-like fortress from this naturally strong position. It is also suggested as a early Medieval (Dark Ages) fortress. A possible gatetower was a drystone construction. Mentioned by Leland as 'Castelle Nose is but a high Stony Creg in the Top of an Hille'.

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 SN96500017

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; 300085

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 00036m

Books

Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p112
RCAHMW, 1991, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan Vol3 pt1a: The Early Castles (London: HMSO) UW4 p146-9
Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p75 [slight]
Davis, Paul R., 1988, Castles of the Welsh Princes (Swansea)
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p172
Davis, Paul R., 1983, Castles of Glamorgan (Alun Books) p28-9
Hague, D.B., 1971, in Pugh, T.B. (ed), Glamorgan County History Vol3 The Middle Ages (Cardiff) p444

Journal Articles

Spurgeon, Jack, 1987, 'The Castles of Glamorgan' Chateau Gaillard Vol13 p207
Spurgeon, C.J. and Thomas, H.J., 1980, 'Castell Nos', Archaeology in Wales Vol20 p75
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

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.

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This record last updated on Saturday, January 20, 2007

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