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Castell Tomen y Mur is a medieval motte defended by Cadw under reference ME002. Located in Wales, this earthwork monument rises from bedrock of Upper Cambrian age, specifically Tremadoc formation rocks composed of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone laid down during the Tremadocian period. The underlying geology of fine-grained sedimentary rock would have influenced both the mound's construction and long-term stability.
The motte represents a characteristically Norman form of fortification, comprising an elevated artificial mound designed to support a wooden or stone superstructure commanding the surrounding landscape. Such monuments were typically constructed to assert feudal authority and control over territory and communication routes during the medieval period.
The site's survival and preservation reflect both its robust earthwork construction and the protective designation it receives as a scheduled ancient monument. The Tremadoc mudstones and siltstones, whilst susceptible to weathering, provided a stable foundation for the mound's establishment, contributing to the monument's endurance across the centuries since its medieval construction.
Castell Tomen y Mur is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference ME002. View the official record →
Castell Tomen y Mur is a medieval motte defended by Cadw under reference ME002.
Castell Tomen y Mur dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Castell Tomen y Mur 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 ME002.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Hut Circle 800m West of Moelfryn-Isaf (4.3 km), Enclosed Hut Circle Settlement at Ffridd Bodyfuddau (4.9 km), Cefn Clawdd Ring Cairn (5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Castell Tomen y Mur'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 Tomen y Mur stands on Upper Cambrian, Including Tremadoc, bedrock that formed in the Tremadocian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.