Abergavenny Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Y Fenni; Bergevenn; Gevenu

In the community of Abergavenny.
In the historic county of Monmouthshire (Modern authority of Monmouthshire, preserved county of Gwent).

The castle has Norman origins: the motte was built by Hamelin de Ballon, the Norman conqueror of this area in 1090. Soon after a stone keep was built on the motte and the present Victorian 'keep' probably stands on its foundations. Castle situated in a strong defensive position above the confluence of the Rivers Usk and Gavenny. Documentary evidence suggests that it was in existence by AD 1090. Originally a motte and bailey castle, which was rebuilt in stone during C13. It had a circular round tower on the motte and the outer bailey is divided to form a small forecourt to the motte. A large polygonal tower and a long barbican was added c.1300. Documentary history suggests that it was captured by the Welsh on at least one occasion and subsequently recaptured. It was held against Glyndwr and dismantled 1645.

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

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO29961394

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; 94876

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 01759g

• Web site links
  • http://www.castlewales.com/abergav.html
• Books
  • Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p121-2
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p26-7
    Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p10-11
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p280-1
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p322
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Oman, Charles W.C., 1926, Castles (1978 edn Beetham House: New York) p167-9
    Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p97-8
    Bradney, J.A., 1906, History of Monmouthshire Vol1 p148-9 [trifling]
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol2 p74-6
    Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol2 (London) p483
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p372
    Coxe, W., 1801, Historical Tour in Monmouthshire (London) Vol1 p172-81 [plan facing p49]
    Grose, F., 1756, Antiquities of England and Wales Vol3 p147-50
• Journal Articles
  • Phillips, N., 2000, 'Abergavenny Castle 1087-1535' Gwent Local History Vol88 p17-31
    Thompson, M.W., 1986, 'Associated monasteries and castles in the Middle Ages: a tentative list' Archaeological Journal Vol143 p308
    Kenyon, John R., 1984, 'Abergavenny Castle: a reinterpretation of Thomas Cooke's painting The Castle and Mount', Caerleon, 1785' Monmouthshire Antiquarian 5(1-2) p62-3
    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
    Radcliffe, 1962, Archaeology in Wales Vol2 p16
    Brown, R, Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol74 [Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press)] pp90-121
• Guidebooks
  • Ralphs, 1956, Abergavenny Castle (Abergavenny)
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/hertseng.html#mons7]
    Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1910, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (Bell and Sons; London) Vol3 p45