Hen Gastell, Llanrhidian Higher

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Hen Castell; Dan-y-lan Camp; Pen-clawdd

In the community of Llanrhidian Higher.
In the historic county of Glamorgan (Modern authority of Swansea, preserved county of West Glamorgan).

Possible castle. King rejects in CA as in an indefensible site. Recorded in CARN as Iron Age Hill Fort the given reference is not a hill top but half way up a steep sided hill and clearly overlooked to the south. Not shown on the OS map but can be seen on air photo. Spurgeon writes form resembles medieval castle-ringworks, but, with no obvious manorial context, it has been classified as an iron-age earthwork.

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

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SS55439577

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; 300899

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 00227w

Books

King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p174 [reject]
RCAHMW, 1976, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan Vol1 pt2 (London: HMSO) no648 p32

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., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol112 p77-124
Morris, 1957-8, Cardiff Naturalists' Society Vol87 p23

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This record last updated on Saturday, January 20, 2007

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