RD143

Barland Motte and Bailey  

22/03/1989  

Designated  

Powys  

Old Radnor  

328104  

261840  

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. Barland motte and bailey is a well preserved oval mound set in the south-east corner of a roughly rectangular bailey, above a steep valley to the south-east. The mound is c.3m in height, c.25m north-east to south-west by 23m, with a flattish summit c.12m by 6m. The bailey is c.50m east-west by 60m and is defined by a low earthwork on the north-west, a gully to the north and natural scarps elsewhere. 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.