RD036

The Mount Mound & Bailey Castle, Hundred House  

 

Designated  

Powys  

Glascwm  

311649  

254234  

Defence  

Motte and Bailey  

Medieval  

The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument. The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period. A motte and bailey castle comprises a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil or stone (the motte) surrounded by, or adjacent to, one or more embanked enclosures (the bailey). Both may be surrounded by wet or dry ditches and could be further strengthened with palisades, revetments, and/or a tower on top of the motte. The Mount is located on level ground c.50m north-east of the river Edw. The motte, which measures c.50m north-west to south-east by c.42m, is at the west end of the bailey and stands to a height of c.10m with a flat oval summit. It is ditched on its north and east sides; elsewhere the ditch has disappeared. Adjoining the motte on its south-east side is a small embanked enclosure or platform measuring c.21m north-east to south-west by 12m. Beyond this to the east is the main bailey, measuring c.80m in diameter internally and enclosing an area of about 0.8ha. It is defended by a bank and ditch, which are clearly defined but present only on the north and north-east sides, with a simple entrance gap on the north-east. The topography suggests that the south side of the bailey may have been lost to erosion from the river at some stage. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval defensive organisation. The well-preserved monument forms an important element within the wider medieval context and the structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information relating to chronology, building techniques and functional detail. The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.