CM143

Trefenty Mound and Bailey Castle  

 

Designated  

Carmarthenshire  

St. Clears  

229708  

213546  

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 and first mentioned in documents of 1116. It is located along a ridge sloping steeply southwards to the head of the river Taff estuary. 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. Trefenty motte is oval-shaped measuring c 43m east to west by 34m across and is 5m high with an embanked summit 22m wide. The bailey to the east is, defined by scarped edges and measures c 44m east to west by 27m across. 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.