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Castell Meurig is a medieval motte and bailey castle situated in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference CM099. The monument consists of a raised mound, or motte, topped by a flattened platform where a timber or stone structure once stood, accompanied by an adjacent bailey—a roughly circular or oval defended enclosure. This earthwork form represents a common Norman fortification strategy employed across Britain and Wales during the medieval period, particularly from the eleventh century onwards.
The castle is constructed upon bedrock of Wenlock age, comprising mudstone, siltstone and sandstone of the Wenlock Rocks formation. These ancient sedimentary deposits, laid down in a shallow marine environment during the Silurian period, form the underlying geology of the locality and would have influenced both the drainage of the site and the materials available to the castle's builders. The solid foundation of Wenlock bedrock provided stability for earthwork construction.
As a motte and bailey, Castell Meurig exemplifies a fortification type designed for rapid construction and defensive effectiveness. The raised motte offered commanding views across the surrounding landscape, whilst the bailey provided space for domestic buildings, stores and livestock. The monument survives as an important archaeological record of medieval military architecture and territorial control in Wales.
Castell Meurig is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CM099. View the official record →
Castell Meurig is a medieval motte and bailey castle situated in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference CM099.
Castell Meurig dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte and bailey. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Castell Meurig 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 CM099.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Bryngwyn Standing Stone (6.4 km), Burnt Mound 500m ESE of Llwyn Wennol (8 km), Pont Clydach settlement (8.4 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Castell Meurig's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Castell Meurig stands on Wenlock Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.