Gro Tump Motte

In the community of Newton and Llanllwchaiarn.
In the historic county of Montgomeryshire (Modern authority of Powys, preserved county of Powys).

Impressive motte laying to the east of Newtown. The inner bailey is 18mx38m, and has strong defences in the form of the River Severn to the east and north. The motte reaches a height of 9m, with a summit of 11m across. Other defences included a ditch. The outer bailey was 30m x 45m, with a 2m rampart protecting the outside flank of the motte. Probably built by Roger de Montgomery in the 1080s, to protect the important route alongside the Severn.

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 SO12349222

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; 306234

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 1035

Web site links
- http://www.castlewales.com/gro_tump.html
Books
- Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p40
  Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p147
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p300
  RCAHMW, 1911, An Inventory of Ancient Monuments in Montgomeryshire (HMSO) p161 No817
Journal Articles
- Spurgeon, C.J., 1966, ‘The castles of Montgomeryshire’ Montgomeryshire Collections Vol58 p18
  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
  Williams, 1902, Montgomeryshire Collections Vol32 p183-5
  Clark, G.T., 1880, Archaeologia Cambrensis [ser4] Vol11 p208-10 [reprint of Montgomeryshire Collections article]
  Clark, G.T., 1877, Montgomeryshire Collections Vol10 p337-40 [where wrongly called Rhos Ddiarbed]

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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This record last updated on Saturday, January 20, 2007

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