Cwm Clais, Castell Bolan

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Baglan; Cwm Glais

In the community of Cwmavon.
In the historic county of Glamorgan (Modern authority of Neath Port Talbot, preserved county of West Glamorgan).

A ditched mound, 26-28m in diameter, apparently consisting of a lower banked mound, c.3.0m high with a lesser mound, c.3.0m high placed eccentically upon it. The ditch appears to be counterscarped on the SE. It is possible that some features may be buried walls. The sites was said to have been adapted for target practice in the C19 and existing features may also represent this. Possibly a native welsh castle.

This site has been described as a;
Masonry Castle
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 SS76789202

Books

RCAHMW, 1991, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan Vol3 pt1a: The Early Castles (London: HMSO) UW3 p143-5
Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p38
Davis, Paul R., 1988, Castles of the Welsh Princes (Swansea)
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p160
Hague, D.B., 1971, in Pugh, T.B. (ed), Glamorgan County History Vol3 The Middle Ages (Cardiff) p437-8

Journal Articles

Spurgeon, Jack, 1987, 'The Castles of Glamorgan' Chateau Gaillard Vol13 p208
Spurgeon, C.J. and Thomas, H.J.,1980, 'Castell Bolan, Port Talbot', Archaeology in Wales Vol20 p73
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
Richards, A.J., 1933-5, Bulletin Board of Celtic Studies Vol7 p223-4
Richards, A.J., 1933-4, Transaction of the Neath Antiquarian Society Vol4 p101-3
Richards, A.J., 1933-4, Aberafan and Margam District History Society Vol6 p54-6 [same as above]

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.

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Cwm Clais, Castell Bolan

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SS76789202

Sources of information, references and further reading