Clyro Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; La Royl

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

Natural hillock which as been made into a large mound up to 40m across on the top with a surrounding ditch. There are buried footings of a polygonal curtain wall probably with a keep or gatehouse on the south side and internal buildings. The castle may have been founded as early as the 1070s as a twin to Hay-on-Wye across the river. At the time when Hay was being refortified in stone Clyro was probably abandoned as its lands had been granted by the princes of Elfael to Abbey Cwmhir. Clyro Castle was probably rebuilt after the Tosny family regained Elfael in 1276, although the first specific mention of the castle is not until the area was being ruled by the Beauchamps from Pain's Castle in 1397. Clyro was amongst the several castles fortified in 1403 against Owain Glyndwr but probably soon fell into decay afterwards.

This site has been described as a;
Masonry Castle
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 SO21464357

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; 306310

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 435

• Web site links
  • http://www.castlewales.com/clyro.html
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p60
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p181
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p64
    Remfry, P., 1996, Castles of Radnorshire (Logaston Press) p139
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p407
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p341
    RCAHMW, 1913, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Radnorshire (HMSO) p34
    Davies, Edwin (ed), William, Jonathan, 1905, A General History of the County of Radnor [reprinted from 1858, Archaeologia Cambrensis [ser3] Vol4] p250
• Journal Articles
  • 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