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Maesmor Hall Castle Mound is a medieval motte constructed on bedrock composed of Ashgill rocks—mudstone, siltstone and sandstone laid down in the Ashgill age. The mound rises prominently from this sedimentary foundation, typical of Norman and early medieval defensive earthworks in Wales. The site demonstrates how medieval builders exploited the natural topography of the Welsh landscape, positioning their fortification where the underlying geology provided stable ground for the substantial earthwork.
The motte represents a practical military solution common in frontier regions during the medieval period. Such mottes frequently served as administrative centres for Norman lords establishing control over Welsh territories, their elevated position offering surveillance of surrounding land and defensive advantage. The choice of location at Maesmor Hall reflects strategic considerations about visibility and accessibility within the local landscape.
Protected by Cadw as a scheduled ancient monument under reference DE149, Maesmor Hall Castle Mound remains an important survival of medieval military architecture in Wales. The site preserves physical evidence of the period when Norman and Anglo-Norman lords constructed networks of fortifications to consolidate their hold over Welsh lands, and it contributes significantly to understanding medieval settlement patterns and defensive strategies in the region.
Maesmor Hall Castle Mound is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference DE149. View the official record →
Maesmor Hall Castle Mound is a medieval motte constructed on bedrock composed of Ashgill rocks—mudstone, siltstone and sandstone laid down in the Ashgill age. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference DE149.
Maesmor Hall Castle Mound dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Maesmor Hall Castle Mound 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 DE149.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Branas-Uchaf Round Barrow (7.1 km), Pont Cilan (7.2 km), Blaen-y-Cwm Inscribed Stone (Now in Llandrillo Church) (7.8 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Maesmor Hall Castle Mound'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.
Maesmor Hall Castle Mound stands on Ashgill Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Ashgill. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.