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Cwrt Llechryd moated site is a medieval moated dwelling located in Wales, protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw. The site comprises a substantial rectangular platform surrounded by a water-filled moat, a common defensive and status-defining feature of medieval manor houses from the 12th century onwards. The moat's water supply would have been maintained by the underlying Wenlock bedrock, a geology of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone deposited during the Palaeozoic era, which naturally retains moisture and would have been instrumental in keeping the moat permanently flooded.
The construction of such a moated site represented significant investment and labour, indicating the residence of a person of considerable medieval rank and means. The rectangular platform within the moat would have supported the domestic and service buildings of the household, though no standing structures remain visible today. The choice of this location reflects both practical considerations of water retention and strategic positioning within the local landscape.
The monument survives as an earthwork testament to medieval Welsh settlement patterns and social hierarchy, its preservation under Cadw's protection ensuring its value as evidence of domestic life and land tenure during the medieval period. The site contributes to understanding of medieval Wales beyond its more celebrated military castles.
Cwrt Llechryd moated site is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference RD140. View the official record →
Cwrt Llechryd moated site is a medieval moated dwelling located in Wales, protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference RD140.
Cwrt Llechryd moated site dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a moated site. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Cwrt Llechryd moated site 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 RD140.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Caer Beris (2.5 km), Builth Castle (2.8 km), Cwmhindda Deserted Rural Settlement (5.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Cwrt Llechryd moated site'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.
Cwrt Llechryd moated site stands on Wenlock Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Wenlock. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.