Hen Domen, Old Montgomery Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Baldwins Castle; Muntgumeri

In the community of Montgomery.
In the historic county of Montgomeryshire (Modern authority of Powys, preserved county of Powys).

Large earthen mound (c8 metres high and 40 metres in diameter) with the earthworks of the bailey. The site, which is now partially covered with trees, is the most extensively excavated timber castle in Britain. It was an important location just east of the ford of Rhyd Whyman over the river Severn. Built in the 1070s (not long after the Norman conquest) by Roger, Earl of Shrewsbury who named it Montgomery after his home in Normandy. Roger of Montgomery was lord of large areas of land in Powys and an important noble in the new Norman world. The castle became the property of the crown in 1102 when Robert of Montgomery rebelled against the king. The castle was then held by the de Boulers until 1207. In 1215 the area came under Welsh control and the castle fell into decay although it was briefly reoccupied in 1223 when the area came back under English control and the new castle of Montgomery was built. Although this castle had well over a hundred years use and was the caput of the de Boulers 30 years of extensive excavation found no high status finds and only one coin showing how frugal life was (in the welsh marches) in the C11-C12 even for quite powerful lords.

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 SO21379802

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; 306405

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 50101

• Web site links
  • http://www.castlewales.com/hen_d.html
    http://www.cpat.org.uk/educate/guides/hendomen/hendomen.htm
    http://history.powys.org.uk/history/montgom/domen1.html
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_wales/137/hendomencastle.htm
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p41
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p148
    Higham. R. and Barker. P., 2000, Hen Domen Montgomery: a timber castle on the English-Welsh border. (University of Exeter Press. Exeter)
    Higham, R. and Barker, P., 1992, Timber Castles (Batsford)
    Barker. P. and Higham. R., 1988. Hen Domen. Montgomery. A Timber Castle on the English-Welsh Border. Excavations 1960-1988. A Summary Report (Worcester: Hen Domen Archaeological Project)
    Barker, P.A., 1987, ‘Hen Domen revisited’, in Kenyon, John R. and R Avent (eds), Castles in Wales and the Marches: essays in honour of D J Cathcart King, (Cardiff: University of Wales Press) p51-4
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p299
    Barker, P.A. and Higham, R., 1982, Hen Domen, Montgomery: a timber castle on the English-Welsh border. ([London]: Royal Archaeological Institute)
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles)
    Haslam, Richard, 1979, Building of Wales; Powys (University of Wales Press) p168-70
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Tomley, J.E., c1923, 'The History of Montgomery p4-6
    RCAHMW, 1911, An Inventory of Ancient Monuments in Montgomeryshire (HMSO) p157 No803
    Eyton, R.W., 1854-60, The Antiquities of Shropshire Vol11 p117-131
• Journal Articles
  • Higham, Robert A., 2003, The Development of a Timber Castle at Hen Domen, Montgomery (Powys, Wales), c. 1070-1270'' Château Gaillard Vol21
    Harfield, C.G., 1991, 'A Hand-list of Castles Recorded in the Domesday Book' English Historical Review Vol106 p 371-92
    Barker, P.A., Sept 1988, ‘Hen Domen’, Current Archaeology Vol10.4 p137-42
    Youngs, S.M., Clark, J. and Barry, T., 1986, ‘Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1985’, Medieval Archaeology Vol30 p197-8
    Barker, P.A. and Higham, R A., 1985, ‘Hen Domen, Montgomery (Powys), interim report 1985‘, West Midlands Archaeology Vol28 p18-19
    Barker, P.A. and Higham, R A., 1984, ‘Hen Domen: interim report 1984’, Shropshire Newsletter, 20 p8-9
    Youngs, S.M., Clark, J. and Barry, T.B., 1984, 'Medieval Britain and Ireland in 1983’, Medieval Archaeology Vol28 p265
    Barker, P.A. and Higham, R A., 1984, ‘Hen Domen, Montgomery (Powys) (1983)’, Shropshire Newsletter, 19 p1-3
    Barker, P.A., 1983-4 ‘Montgomery, Powys: Hen Domen’, CBA Newsletter and Calendar, 7 p137
    Barker, P.A. and Higham, R A., 1983, ‘Hen Domen, Powys‘, West Midlands Archaeology Vol26 p93-5
    Barker, P.A. and Higham, R A., 1983, ‘Hen Domen, Montgomery - 1982: interim report’, Shropshire News Sheet, 17 p2-4
    Barker, P.A., 1982-3 ‘Hen Domen, Montgomery, Powys’, CBA Newsletter and Calendar, 6 p159
    Higham, R., 1982, ‘Dating in medieval archaeology: problems and possibilities’, in B Orme (ed), Problems and case studies in archaeological dating, (Exeter: University of Exeter)
    Barker, P.A. and Higham, R.A., 1982, ‘Hen Domen 1981’, Shropshire News Sheet, 15 p1-2
    Barker, P.A., 1981-2 ‘Hen Domen, Montgomery, Powys’, CBA Newsletter and Calendar, 5 p148
    Barker, P.A. and Higham, R.A., 1981, ‘Hen Domen, Montgomery. Excavations of motte-and-bailey castle‘, West Midlands Archaeology Vol24 p78-81
    Barker, P.A. 1981. ‘Hen Domen, Montgomery’ Archaeological Journal Vol138 p18
    Youngs, S.M. and Clark, J., 1981, ‘Medieval Britain in 1980’, Medieval Archaeology Vol25 p204
    Barker, P.A. and Higham, R.A., 1980. 'Hen Domen, Montgomery’. Archaeology in Wales Vol20 p87-9
    Barker, P.A. and Higham, R.A., 1980, ‘Hen Domen, Montgomery. Excavations of Norman motte-and-bailey ‘, West Midlands Archaeology Vol23 p92-3
    Webster, L.E. and Cherry, J., 1980, ‘Medieval Britain in 1979’, Medieval Archaeology Vol24 p249
    Barker, P.A., 1979, ‘Hen Domen, Montgomery, 1979’, West Midlands Archaeological News Sheet, 22 p65
    Barker, P.A., 1979, ‘Hen Domen, Montgomery - 1979. Interim note’ Shropshire News Sheet, 10 p2
    Barker, P.A., 1978-9, ‘Hen Domen’, CBA Newsletter and Calendar, 2 p133
    Barker, P.A., 1978, ‘Hen Domen 1978’ West Midlands Archaeological News Sheet, 21 p97
    Webster, L.E. and Cherry, J., 1978, ‘Medieval Britain in 1977’ Medieval Archaeology Vol22 p171
    Barker, P.A. 1978, ‘Five castle excavations: reports on the Institute’s research project into the origins of the castle in England. Hen Domen, Montgomery, 1966-77’ Archaeological Journal Vol134 p101-105
    Webster, L.E. and Cherry, J., 1977, ‘Medieval Britain in 1976’ Medieval Archaeology Vol21 p241-2
    Barker, P.A., 1977, ‘Hen Domen, Montgomery, 1977’ West Midlands Archaeological News Sheet, 20 p83
    Barker, P.A., 1976. 'Hen Domen’ West Midlands Archaeology Newsletter 19. CBA 8. 66-8
    Webster, L.E. and Cherry, J., 1976, ‘Medieval Britain in 1975’, Medieval Archaeology Vol20 p187
    Barker, P.A., 1976, ‘Hen Domen, Montgomery: an interim interpretation of the NE sector of the bailey’ West Midlands Archaeological News Sheet, 19 p66-8
    [Barker], 1975, Medieval Archaeology Vol19 p242
    [Barker], 1974, Medieval Archaeology Vol18 p198
    Barker, P.A. 1973. 'Hen Domen’ Archaeology in Wales Vol13 p54
    [Barker], 1973, Medieval Archaeology Vol17 p166
    Barker, P.A. 1972. 'Hen Domen’ Archaeology in Wales Vol12 p39-40
    [Barker], 1972, Medieval Archaeology Vol16 p186
    [Barker], 1971, Medieval Archaeology Vol15 p151-2
    Barker, P.A. and Lawson, J., 1971, 'A pre-Norman field system at Hen Domen, Montgomery' Medieval Archaeology Vol15 p58-72
    Barker, P.A. 1970. 'Hen Domen’ Archaeology in Wales Vol10 p27
    [Barker], 1970, Medieval Archaeology Vol14 p180
    Barker, P.A. 1970, 'Excavations at Hen Domen, Montgomeryshire' Archaeological Journal Vol126 p177-8
    Barker, P.A. 1969-70, World Archaeology Vol1 p221-8
    Barker, P.A. 1969. 'Hen Domen’ Archaeology in Wales Vol9 p27
    Barker, P.A. 1969. 'Hen Domen, Montgomery, Excavations, 1960-67’ Chateau Gaillard Vol3 p15-27
    [Barker], 1969, Medieval Archaeology Vol13 p242-3
    Barker, P.A. 1968. 'Hen Domen’ Archaeology in Wales Vol8 p25
    Barker, P.A. 1968, 'Hen Domen, Montgomery' Archaeological Journal Vol125 p303
    [Barker], 1968, Medieval Archaeology Vol12 p182
    Barker, P.A., Nov 1967, 'Hen Domen - Motte' Current Archaeology, Vol5 p133-6
    Barker, P.A. 1967. 'Hen Domen’ Archaeology in Wales Vol7 p17
    [Barker], 1967, Medieval Archaeology Vol11 p290
    Spurgeon, C.J., 1966, ‘The castles of Montgomeryshire’ Montgomeryshire Collections Vol58 p20-25
    Barker, P.A. 1966. 'Hen Domen’ Archaeology in Wales Vol6 p22
    [Barker], 1966, Medieval Archaeology Vol10 p195-6
    Barker, P.A. 1965. 'Hen Domen’ Archaeology in Wales Vol5 p33
    [Barker], 1965, Medieval Archaeology Vol9 p193
    Barker, P.A. 1964. 'Hen Domen’ Archaeology in Wales Vol4 p21
    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
    Barker, P.A. 1963. 'Hen Domen’ Archaeology in Wales Vol3 p20
    [Barker], 1962-3, Medieval Archaeology Vol6-7 p326-8
    Barker, P.A. 1962. ‘Hen Domen’ Archaeology in Wales Vol2 p17
    Barker, P.A. 1961. 'Hen Domen’ Archaeology in Wales Vol1 p14
    [Barker], 1961, Medieval Archaeology Vol5 p322
    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
    Davies Pryce, English Historical Review Vol20 p709
    Chitty, Lily, 1949, 'Subsidiary Castle Sites West of Shrewsbury' Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological Society Vol53 p83-90
    1942, Archaeologia Cambrensis p4
    1940, Archaeologia Cambrensis p217
    1932, Archaeologia Cambrensis p439-41
    Gardner, Willoughby, 1923, Archaeologia Cambrensis [ser7] Vol3 p343-4
    Clark, G.T., 1880, Archaeologia Cambrensis p210-11 [reprint of Montgomeryshire Collections article]
    Clark, G.T., 1877, ‘The moated mounds of the Upper Severn’, Montgomeryshire Collections Vol10 p313-9, 340-2
    Sandford, G., 1877, Montgomeryshire Collections Vol10 p61-73
• Guidebooks
  • Lloyd, J.D.K. and Knight, J.K., 1981 (2edn), Montgomery Castle, Powys/Castell Trefaldwyn (HMSO) p6-7
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents. This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • The Anglo-saxon Chronicle; Laud Chronicle AD1095