PE241

New Moat Castle Mound  

14/03/1951  

Designated  

Pembrokeshire  

New Moat  

206340  

225353  

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 motte measures 60ft in diameter across the top and 20ft high and is surrounded by a wet ditch. There is a 3ft counterscarp bank outside the ditch in places. The bailey bank starts on the south and turns in a southwesterly direction. This is almost completely ploughed out. 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.