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Tomen y Faerdre is a medieval motte situated in Wales and protected as an ancient monument by Cadw under reference DE122. The earthwork rises from bedrock formed of Caradoc Rocks, undifferentiated mudstone, siltstone and sandstone deposits laid down during the Caradocian period. This solid geological foundation would have provided a stable base for the motte's construction, whilst the mixed stone composition offered variable resistance to erosion across the site.
The motte represents a characteristic Norman or early medieval fortification type, consisting of an artificial earthen mound crowned by a timber palisade and residential tower. Such mottes typically served military, administrative and domestic functions within their local landscape, often controlling communication routes or river crossings. The placement of Tomen y Faerdre upon Caradocian bedrock reflects the builder's practical choice of naturally elevated or defensible ground.
The monument survives as an earthwork testament to medieval Wales's military and political organisation. Its preservation under statutory protection recognises its archaeological significance as evidence of settlement patterns, territorial control and the physical expression of authority during the medieval period. The motte's relationship to surrounding topography and geology continues to inform understanding of how communities in medieval Wales selected and exploited their landscape.
Tomen y Faerdre is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference DE122. View the official record →
Tomen y Faerdre is a medieval motte situated in Wales and protected as an ancient monument by Cadw under reference DE122.
Tomen y Faerdre 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 y Faerdre 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 DE122.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Ty-Newydd Dyke (1.6 km), Llwyn Bryn-Dinas Camp (2.5 km), Plas Uchaf Enclosure (3.1 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Tomen y Faerdre'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 y Faerdre stands on Caradoc Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Caradocian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone and sandstone.