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Erddig Mound and Bailey Castle is a medieval motte and bailey fortification located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference DE017. The monument comprises an earthen mound, or motte, with an adjoining bailey—a characteristic defensive arrangement of the Norman period. Such castles were built rapidly and economically using rammed earth rather than stone masonry, making them ideal for securing newly conquered territories.
The site rests upon bedrock belonging to the Warwickshire Group, formed during the Early Permian period. This geological foundation consists of interbedded siltstone and sandstone with subordinate mudstone layers, which would have influenced both the construction and stability of the earthwork. The strength and composition of this underlying geology made the location suitable for building substantial defensive earthworks.
Motte and bailey castles typically served as administrative and military centres for feudal lords, combining residential and defensive functions. The motte provided a commanding vantage point and final stronghold, whilst the bailey enclosed domestic and service buildings. Though many such castles were later replaced by stone fortifications or fell into disuse, Erddig's earthworks preserve an important record of medieval settlement patterns and military organisation in Wales.
Erddig Mound & Bailey Castle is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference DE017. View the official record →
Erddig Mound and Bailey Castle is a medieval motte and bailey fortification located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference DE017.
Erddig Mound & Bailey 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.
Erddig Mound & Bailey 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 DE017.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Wat's Dyke: Section extending from Pentre-Clawdd to Wynnstay Park (4.9 km), Eyton Old Hall Moat (5.4 km), Offa's Dyke: Section SW from Tatham Bridge (6.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Erddig Mound & Bailey 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.
Erddig Mound & Bailey Castle stands on Warwickshire Group, bedrock that formed in the Early Permian. The rock here is siltstone and sandstone with subordinate mudstone.