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Old Castle Mound is a medieval ringwork situated on bedrock of Caradoc Rocks, a formation of Caradocian mudstone, siltstone and sandstone that would have offered substantial natural foundations for defensive earthworks. The ringwork comprises a circular or oval enclosure defended by a bank and ditch, a common form of fortification established across Wales during the medieval period. Its construction took advantage of the underlying geology, with the Caradocian strata providing stable ground for the rampart and allowing drainage away from the interior.
The site's design reflects the practical concerns of medieval lords seeking modest but effective fortification. Ringworks typically accommodated a small garrison and provided refuge for livestock and valuables during periods of conflict or uncertainty. The monument's earthworks remain substantially preserved, with the bank and ditch clearly defined across the landscape, allowing visitors to understand the spatial arrangement of the original defences.
Old Castle Mound is protected by Cadw, the Welsh Historic Monuments service, under reference CD116. This statutory protection recognises its significance as an example of medieval military architecture adapted to the Welsh landscape and geology. The monument contributes to our understanding of localised medieval settlement patterns and the defensive strategies employed across Wales during the medieval centuries.
Old Castle Mound is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CD116. View the official record →
Old Castle Mound is a medieval ringwork situated on bedrock of Caradoc Rocks, a formation of Caradocian mudstone, siltstone and sandstone that would have offered substantial natural foundations for defensive earthworks. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference CD116.
Old Castle Mound dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a ringwork. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Old 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 CD116.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Court Moated Site (7.5 km), Castell Eglwyswrw (8.4 km), Cup-Marked Stone 350m E of Tre-Fael (8.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Old 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.
Old Castle Mound stands on Caradoc Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Caradocian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.