Scheduled MonumentsWalesBrecon Castle
Medieval · Motte and Bailey

Brecon Castle

Breconshire, Wales
Cadw SAM BR022
Period
Medieval
Site type
Motte and Bailey
Broad class
Defence
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Brecon Castle is a motte and bailey fortress established in the late eleventh century following the Norman conquest of South Wales. The castle occupies a strategically prominent position within the town of Brecon and served as an important stronghold for controlling the Brecon Beacons region and the fertile Vale of Usk. The earthwork comprises a substantial mound with surrounding defensive ditches, typical of early Norman military architecture in Wales, though later medieval stone structures including a keep and curtain wall were added to the original earthen defences. The castle remained an active military installation and administrative centre throughout the medieval period, reflecting the significance of Brecon as a focal point of Norman settlement and authority in mid-Wales.

Brecon Castle is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference BR022. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Brecon Castle?

Brecon Castle is a motte and bailey fortress established in the late eleventh century following the Norman conquest of South Wales. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference BR022.

What period does Brecon Castle date from?

Brecon Castle dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte and bailey. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Brecon Castle?

Brecon Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is BR022.

What other scheduled monuments are near Brecon Castle?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Plas-y-Gaer Camp (4.3 km), Coed y Brenin Enclosure (5.4 km), Coed y Caerau Camp (5.5 km).

Aubrey Research

Generate a full report for this location

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in Britain — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.

Research the area around Brecon Castle