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Old Castle motte is a medieval motte situated in Wales and protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw under reference CM323. The motte rises from bedrock formed during the Westphalian period as part of the South Wales Upper Coal Measures Formation, a sequence of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone interspersed with coal seams, ironstone and ferricrete deposits. This geological foundation provided the stable base necessary for the construction of this substantial earthwork.
The motte represents a form of castle construction prevalent in medieval Britain, particularly during the Norman period and beyond. Such mottes typically served as defensive strongholds, with the raised earthwork providing a naturally elevated position for timber fortifications. The castle's position on Coal Measures bedrock would have offered a firm foundation resistant to subsidence, an important practical consideration for monuments designed to project authority and military strength.
Today Old Castle motte survives as a visible feature in the Welsh landscape, testament to medieval settlement patterns and the strategies of fortification employed during this period. The monument's designation by Cadw recognises its historical significance and ensures its protection for future generations seeking to understand Wales's medieval heritage.
Old Castle motte is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CM323. View the official record →
Old Castle motte is a medieval motte situated in Wales and protected as a scheduled monument by Cadw under reference CM323.
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.
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.
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).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Old Castle 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.
Old Castle motte stands on South Wales Upper Coal Measures Formation, bedrock that formed in the Westphalian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone, sandstone, coal, ironstone and ferricrete.