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Llanwnnen Ring Motte is a medieval ringwork situated in Wales, protected as a scheduled monument under Cadw reference CD117. The site occupies ground underlain by Llandovery Rocks, a formation of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone laid down during the Llandovery period. These sedimentary strata provide the geological foundation for the earthwork.
The monument comprises a ringwork, a defensive fortification consisting of a bank and ditch arranged in a circular or oval plan. This form of fortification was characteristic of the medieval period, particularly during the 11th to 13th centuries, when such works served as strongholds for landholders and administrative centres across Wales and the English borders. The design provided effective defence with lower construction costs and labour requirements than stone castles.
The local geology of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone would have influenced both the construction of the earthwork and the settlement's character. These softer sedimentary rocks could be worked readily for building material, whilst the underlying strata affected drainage and land use around the fortification. Llanwnnen Ring Motte remains an important example of medieval Welsh defensive architecture and territorial control.
Llanwnnen Ring Motte is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CD117. View the official record →
Llanwnnen Ring Motte is a medieval ringwork situated in Wales, protected as a scheduled monument under Cadw reference CD117.
Llanwnnen Ring Motte dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a ringwork. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Llanwnnen Ring Motte 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 CD117.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Three Round Cairns SE of Blaen Carreg (3.7 km), Pen y Gaer (3.8 km), Pen Lan round barrow cemetery (3.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Llanwnnen Ring Motte'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.
Llanwnnen Ring Motte stands on Llandovery Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Llandovery. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.