Scheduled MonumentsWalesSycharth Mound and Bailey Castle
Medieval · Motte and Bailey

Sycharth Mound and Bailey Castle

Denbighshire, Wales
Cadw SAM DE020
Period
Medieval
Site type
Motte and Bailey
Broad class
Defence
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

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Overview

History & significance

Sycharth Mound and Bailey Castle is a motte and bailey fortification located in Denbighshire, Wales, dating to the Norman period of medieval Wales. The site consists of a substantial earthen mound topped by a defensive palisade, accompanied by an adjoining bailey, representing a typical form of early Norman military architecture in the Welsh borderlands. The castle is historically significant as the stronghold of Owain Glyndŵr, the Welsh rebel leader who held the site during his revolt against English rule in the early fifteenth century, though the fortification itself originated in the Norman conquest period. The surviving earthworks remain substantially intact and preserve important evidence of medieval defensive construction and the strategic importance of this location within the Welsh political landscape.

Sycharth Mound and Bailey Castle is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference DE020. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Sycharth Mound and Bailey Castle?

Sycharth Mound and Bailey Castle is a motte and bailey fortification located in Denbighshire, Wales, dating to the Norman period of medieval Wales. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference DE020.

What period does Sycharth Mound and Bailey Castle date from?

Sycharth Mound and Bailey Castle dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte and bailey. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Sycharth Mound and Bailey Castle?

Sycharth Mound and Bailey Castle 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 DE020.

What other scheduled monuments are near Sycharth Mound and Bailey Castle?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Soldier's Mount (5.4 km), Roman Supply Depot, Llansantffraid ym Mechain (5.8 km), Domen Castell Mound & Bailey Castle (6 km).

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