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Cymmer Castle is a medieval motte located in Wales and protected as a scheduled ancient monument by Cadw under reference ME150. The castle sits upon bedrock of Upper Cambrian age, specifically rocks of Tremadoc formation laid down during the Tremadocian period, comprising mudstone, siltstone and sandstone. This geology would have provided a firm foundation for the timber or stone structures that crowned the mound.
The motte represents a characteristic form of Norman castle construction, consisting of an artificial or scarped mound designed to elevate a fortified strongpoint above the surrounding landscape. Such mottes were typically raised during the 11th and 12th centuries to project military authority and control communication routes and local territories. The solid bedrock beneath Cymmer would have supported construction work and helped anchor defensive palisades.
The survival of the motte demonstrates the durability of this earthwork type, with the underlying geology playing a significant role in preservation. Medieval castles of this form served as administrative and defensive centres for their respective lords, and their prominence in the Welsh landscape attests to the military and political strategies of the Norman period. Cymmer Castle's protected status recognises its importance as evidence of medieval settlement and organisation in Wales.
Cymmer Castle is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference ME150. View the official record →
Cymmer Castle is a medieval motte located in Wales and protected as a scheduled ancient monument by Cadw under reference ME150.
Cymmer Castle dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Cymmer 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 ME150.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Pentre Farm Barrow (1.1 km), Brithdir Roman Fort (4.1 km), Maes Coch Deserted Rural Settlement (4.3 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Cymmer Castle'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.
Cymmer Castle stands on Upper Cambrian, Including Tremadoc, bedrock that formed in the Tremadocian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.