Scheduled MonumentsWalesOld Castle motte
Medieval · Motte

Old Castle motte

Carmarthenshire, Wales
Cadw SAM CM323
Period
Medieval
Site type
Motte
Broad class
Defence
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Old Castle motte is a Medieval motte-and-bailey earthwork located in Carmarthenshire, Wales, and is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument under Cadw reference CM323. The site comprises a prominent mound typical of Norman defensive architecture, constructed during the early medieval period following the Norman conquest and settlement of South Wales. The earthwork represents the characteristic ringwork or motte form employed by Norman lords to assert military control over conquered Welsh territories, with the raised mound originally designed to support a timber palisade and tower structure. As with many such mottes in Carmarthenshire, Old Castle exemplifies the widespread Norman strategy of establishing fortified strongholds across the region during the eleventh and twelfth centuries.

Old Castle motte is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CM323. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Old Castle motte?

Old Castle motte is a Medieval motte-and-bailey earthwork located in Carmarthenshire, Wales, and is designated as a Scheduled Ancient Monument under Cadw reference CM323. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference CM323.

What period does Old Castle motte date from?

Old Castle motte dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Old Castle motte?

Old Castle 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 CM323.

What other scheduled monuments are near Old Castle motte?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cil Ifor Promontory Fort (8.1 km), Lower Greyhound Inn Standing Stones (8.5 km), Sampson's Jack (8.5 km).

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