Twyn y Gregen, Llanarth

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Twyn y Cregen

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

A mound, c.20m in diameter and 5.0m high, ditched except where it rests on steep natural slopes to the E, to the S a part of the mound has been consumed by a sand pit. Excavation in 1936 produced high quality C13 pottery, but no structural evidence. In August 2005 heavily overgrown with bramble. The mound is formed from a low ridge, is now invisible except at very close inspection but can never have been particularly prominate. Not near any settlement now or in the past. I can only think this must have been some form of hunting lodge since their is no apparent military, administrative or prestige value to the site.

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

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO36270966

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; 306421

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 01834g

Books

Higham, R. and Barker, P., 1992, Timber Castles (Batsford)
Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p74 [slight]
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p284
Bradney, J.A., 1904-33, History of Monmouthshire Vol1 p301

Journal Articles

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
O'Neil, B.H.St.J. and Foster-Smith, A.H., 1936, 'Excavations at Twyn-y-Cregen, Llanarth, Monmouthshire' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol91 p247-58, 348-9

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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