Castell Cwm Aran

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Cymaran; Cymaron; Gemaron; Camaron; Caperun; Cwm Avon; Cwm Aron; Kamhawn; Cans Castle; Cuthremion

In the community of Llanddewi Ystradenny.
In the historic county of Radnorshire (Modern authority of Powys, preserved county of Powys).

A subrectangular motte, the summit c.38m by 20m, 15m high above the valley to the S and E, 9.5m high above a rock-cut ditch to the W and N, across which lies a rectilinear bailey, c.47m by 49-62m, also resting on steep slopes to the E, banked and ditched elsewhere, including towards the motte. There is a counterscarp to the W and indications of a further enclosure, c.20m deep, to the N. The whole work is c.150m by 100m overall. Possible founded during Mortimer conquest of area in 1093. Exchanged hands between Welsh and English several times until possibly finally destroyed by Llywelyn the Great in 1215. Remfry suggests this is the site of Cans Castle recorded in 1134.

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 SO15277030

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; 306162

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 1112

• Web site links
  • http://www.castles99.ukprint.com/Essays/cymaron.html
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p57
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p181
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p50
    Remfry, P., 1996, Castles of Radnorshire (Logaston Press) p92-4
    Higham, R. and Barker, P., 1992, Timber Castles (Batsford) p243
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p407-8, 559, 563
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p345
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works Vol2: the Middle Ages (London: HMSO) p624
    Howse, W.H., 1949, Radnorshire (Hereford) p268
    RCAHMW, 1913, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Radnorshire (HMSO) p73
    Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p292-3
    Davies, Edwin (ed), William, Jonathan, 1905, A General History of the County of Radnor [reprinted from 1858, Archaeologia Cambrensis [ser3] Vol4] p236-7
• 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
    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
    Brown, R. Allen, 1955, 'Royal Castle-building in England 1154-1216' English Historical Review Vol70 [Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press)] pp19-64
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/hertseng.html#rad3]