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New Moat Castle Mound is a medieval motte and bailey earthwork located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference PE241. The monument comprises the characteristic two-part structure typical of Norman and early medieval military architecture: a raised motte, or mound, upon which a wooden fortification would have stood, and an adjoining bailey, or defended courtyard area. The site exploits the underlying geology effectively, with the mound constructed upon bedrock of Arenig Rocks composed of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone. These fine-grained sedimentary materials, formed during the Arenigian geological period, provide a stable foundation whilst the softer stone would have been readily excavated during the mound's construction.
The earthwork represents a significant example of medieval defensive architecture, typical of the period of Norman expansion and consolidation in Wales. Such motte and bailey castles were built rapidly and economically, relying on earth and timber rather than masonry. The architectural form allowed for effective command of the surrounding landscape and control of local routes and resources.
The monument survives today as a prominent earthwork feature within the Welsh landscape, its substantial mound and bailey platforms remaining clearly visible and archaeologically important as evidence of medieval military strategy and settlement patterns in the region.
New Moat Castle Mound is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference PE241. View the official record →
New Moat Castle Mound is a medieval motte and bailey earthwork located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference PE241.
New Moat Castle Mound 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.
New Moat 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 PE241.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Camp 200m NE of Stoneyford (7.1 km), Camp 400m NW of Holgan (7.2 km), Llawhaden Castle (7.9 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of New Moat 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.
New Moat Castle Mound stands on Arenig Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Arenigian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.