Cwrt Llechrhyd, Llanelwedd

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Cwrt Llechryd

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

This site has been considered by some writers to be a castle but is rejected as such by Hogg and King as Moat but mounds purely natural. Descibed as a large moat possibly of Dark Age origin by Salter. A sub-rectangular rampart and moat, 195m by 206m overall, set about an oval mound with a summit area of 110m by 86m. The outerwork has been dated to c750-1040AD, whilst the mound is thought to be an adopted natural feature. Relict walling has been rumoured upon the mound. This is probably an early medieval welsh noble site.

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle
Palace.
This site is rejected as a medieval fortification or palace.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO02635316

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; 305832

Books

Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p71 [slight]
Higham, R. and Barker, P., 1992, Timber Castles (Batsford) p62, 63
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p413 [reject]
RCAHMW, 1913, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Radnorshire (HMSO) p84

Journal Articles

Musson, C.R. and Spurgeon, C.J. 1988. ‘Cwrt Llechrhyd. Llanelwedd: an unusual moated site in central Powys’. Medieval Archaeology Vol32 p97-109
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
Renn, D.F., 1959, 'Mottes: a classification' Antiquity Vol33 p106-12
Clark, 1880, The Builder Vol38 p249, 252

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.

Please help me to make this as useful a resource as possible by contacting me if you see errors or if you can add information.
I do acknowledge the help I get with this site.

Go to Previous Record Go to Next Record Back to List
This record last updated on Saturday, January 20, 2007

¤¤¤¤¤