Scheduled MonumentsWalesTomen y Castell
Medieval · Motte

Tomen y Castell

Conwy, Wales
Cadw SAM CN196
Period
Medieval
Site type
Motte
Broad class
Defence
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

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Overview

History & significance

Tomen y Castell is a motte and bailey castle located in Conwy, Wales, dating to the Norman period following the conquest of North Wales in the late twelfth century. The monument comprises a substantial earthen mound with associated defensive ditches, representing a typical example of the motte-and-bailey fortification strategy employed by Norman settlers to establish control over conquered Welsh territories. Its position within the Conwy valley made it strategically significant for dominating local communications and maintaining Norman authority in the region. The site remains an important archaeological record of early Norman settlement patterns and military strategy in medieval Wales, though like many such earthwork fortifications it has seen considerable modification through subsequent centuries of agricultural use.

Tomen y Castell is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference CN196. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Tomen y Castell?

Tomen y Castell is a motte and bailey castle located in Conwy, Wales, dating to the Norman period following the conquest of North Wales in the late twelfth century. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference CN196.

What period does Tomen y Castell date from?

Tomen y Castell dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a motte. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Tomen y Castell?

Tomen y Castell 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 CN196.

What other scheduled monuments are near Tomen y Castell?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Rhiwbach Quarry, Tramway and Incline System (5.6 km), Diffwys Quarry (6.3 km), Oakeley Quarry Tips (6.5 km).

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