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Tomen Cefn Glaniwrch is a medieval motte located in Wales and protected by Cadw as a scheduled ancient monument under reference DE123. The earthwork rises from bedrock composed of Caradoc Rocks, an undifferentiated sequence of mudstone, siltstone and sandstone laid down during the Caradocian period. This geological foundation provided a stable base for the Norman and post-Conquest Welsh lords who constructed such defensive ringworks across the Welsh borders and interior. The motte's elevated position would have offered clear sightlines across the surrounding landscape, essential for military communication and territorial control.
Like other mottes of its period, Tomen Cefn Glaniwrch comprises a raised earthen mound, typically surmounted by timber palisades and a keep. The monument reflects the settlement patterns and military strategies of the medieval period, when such fortifications served as administrative centres and strongholds for regional powers. The weathered Caradoc bedrock beneath the site represents ancient seabed deposits, creating a geology fundamentally different from the sandstone and limestone found in other parts of Wales, making this locality distinct within its regional context.
The monument remains a valuable archaeological resource, preserving information about medieval fortification techniques, land use and the political landscape of Wales during the medieval centuries.
Tomen Cefn Glaniwrch is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference DE123. View the official record →
Tomen Cefn Glaniwrch is a medieval motte located in Wales and protected by Cadw as a scheduled ancient monument under reference DE123.
Tomen Cefn Glaniwrch dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Tomen Cefn Glaniwrch 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 DE123.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Tomen y Faerdre (1.4 km), Llwyn Bryn-Dinas Camp (2.5 km), Ty-Newydd Dyke (2.6 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Tomen Cefn Glaniwrch'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.
Tomen Cefn Glaniwrch stands on Caradoc Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Caradocian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.