Scheduled MonumentsWalesColwyn Castle
Medieval · Motte and Bailey

Colwyn Castle

Radnorshire, Wales
Cadw SAM RD035
Period
Medieval
Site type
Motte and Bailey
Broad class
Defence
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Colwyn Castle is a motte and bailey earthwork located in Radnorshire, Wales, dating to the Norman period following the invasion of 1066. The monument consists of a substantial mound with an associated bailey, representing a typical form of early medieval military fortification constructed to assert Norman control over the Welsh borderlands. The site demonstrates the strategic importance of the region during the twelfth century, when such castles served as administrative and defensive centres for the Norman lords establishing their authority in this part of Wales. The earthworks remain substantially preserved, providing valuable archaeological evidence of early medieval fortification practices in the Welsh Marches.

Colwyn Castle is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference RD035. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Colwyn Castle?

Colwyn Castle is a motte and bailey earthwork located in Radnorshire, Wales, dating to the Norman period following the invasion of 1066. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference RD035.

What period does Colwyn Castle date from?

Colwyn 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 the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Colwyn Castle?

Colwyn 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 RD035.

What other scheduled monuments are near Colwyn Castle?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Llanbedr Hill Platform House (6.8 km), Aberedw Castle (7.3 km), Aberedw Castle Mound (7.4 km).

Aubrey Research

Generate a full report for this location

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in the UK — 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 Colwyn Castle