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Mount Cop Castle Mound is a medieval motte located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference FL099. The mound rises from bedrock comprising Triassic mudstone, siltstone and sandstone, geological strata that provided the natural foundation for this defensive earthwork. The Triassic rocks beneath the site are undifferentiated, typical of the varied sedimentary geology underlying much of Wales from that geological period.
As a motte, Mount Cop Castle Mound represents the characteristic Norman or early medieval fortification type, consisting of a substantial earthen mound that would originally have supported timber or stone defensive structures. The mound's construction took advantage of the underlying solid rock base, providing stable ground for the substantial weight of a medieval ringwork or palisade. Such mottes were typically surrounded by a ditch, creating a defensive perimeter that controlled local territory and served administrative functions.
The monument survives today as a prominent earthwork in the Welsh landscape, a physical record of the medieval period's military and social organisation. Its Cadw protection ensures that this important archaeological and historical site remains preserved for study and interpretation, contributing to our understanding of medieval fortification patterns and settlement in Wales.
Mount Cop Castle Mound is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference FL099. View the official record →
Mount Cop Castle Mound is a medieval motte located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference FL099.
Mount Cop 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.
Mount Cop 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 FL099.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Hanmer Moated Site (1.7 km), Hanmer Churchyard Cross (2 km), Two Round Barrows N of Whitewell Church (2.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Mount Cop 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.
Mount Cop Castle Mound stands on Triassic Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Triassic. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.