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Welsh Castle Database
Home | Main Menu | Castle Index | Historical Essays | Recommended Castles | What's New | Links
Although our main castle index provides individual pages for well over 100 different castles, the index still falls well short of the total number of castles and known castle sites found throughout Wales and the Marches. Some of these "vanished castles" are difficult to locate today due to a lack of visible remains, yet many are mentioned in certain historical records. If we include these lesser-known sites the number of castles in Wales quickly climbs into the hundreds. (Our database currently contains over 500 entries!) We hope the database will assist visitors in locating information about all the known castle sites in Wales. The database, presented on three separate pages, provides the following information for most of the castles listed: name, location, including Ordnance Survey coordinates, the date the castle was probably built or first noted in the records, the castle type or a short description of the visible remains (if any). To save space, certain county names have been abbreviated.
The primary written sources used to compile this database include:
- The Castles of Wales, by Alan Reid
- Norman Castles in Britain, by D.F. Renn
- The Castles of North Wales, by Mike Salter
- The Castles of Mid Wales, by Mike Salter
- The Castles of South West Wales, by Mike Salter
- The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan & Gower, by Mike Salter
- Royal Commission of Historic and Ancient Monuments in Wales
- A Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales, Gwynedd
- A Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales, Glamorgan & Gwent
- A Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales, Dyfed
- A Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales, Clwyd & Powys
- Castles of the British Isles, by Plantagent Somerset Fry
- Timber Castles, Higham & Barker
- Wales, Castles and Historic Places, Cadw
Finally, The Castles of Wales web site would like to thank the following individuals for their invaluable assistance in compiling this database: Philip Charles Davis, Paul M. Remfry, Daniel Mersey, John Richards, and John Northall. In particular we would like to recognize Mr Davis for allowing us to draw from his own extensive database of Welsh castles.
Jeffrey L. Thomas
jltbalt1@verizon.net
| NAME / AKA | COUNTY / OS POINT | BUILT / NOTED | CASTLE TYPE / REMAINS |
| Aber | Gwynedd / SN656727 | 1090 | traces of keep on motte |
| Aber Afan | Neath P.T. / SS762901 | 1153 | Welsh masonry motte & bailey |
| Aberaeron | Ceredigion / SN460634 | carried away by sea | |
| Abercowyn | Carmarthen | 1116 | motte and bailey |
| Aberedw (no.1) | Powys / SO079473 | 12th century | motte w/rubble survives |
| Aberedw (no.2) | Powys / SO076474 | 13th century | enclosure castle w/some masonry |
| Aberdyfi, Abereinion, Domas Las |
Ceredigion / SN687968 | 1156 | mound |
| Abergavenny | Monmouth / SO299139 | 1081 | substantial masonry |
| Aberlleiniog | Anglesey / SH616794 | 1088 | motte visible |
| Aberllwchwr | 1151 | ||
| Aberllynfi | Powys / SO171380 | 1233 | motte and bailey |
| Abersoch | Gwynedd / SH313285 | site destroyed | |
| Aberyscir | Powys / SO000296 | motte, part of curtain wall | |
| Aberystwyth 1 | Ceredigion | 1136 | |
| Aberystwyth 2 | Ceredigion / SN579816 | 1277 | substantial masonry |
| Acton Burnell | Shropshire | 13th century | fortified manor house |
| Adpar | Ceredigion / SN309409 | remains of motte | |
| Alexanderstone Motte 1 | Powys / SO073301 | motte & bailey | |
| Alexanderstone Motte 2 | Powys / SO070295 | weak motte | |
| Allt y Ferin | Carmarthen / SN522233 | motte/strong hillfort | |
| Alun | V of Glamorgan / SS911747 | disputed site | |
| Ammanford | Carmarthen / SN624125 | ringwork and bailey | |
| Amroth | Pembroke / SN163077 | 12th century | motte castle |
| Angle | Pembroke / SM866030 | single masonry tower | |
| Arnault | Monmouth | 1175 | Welsh - natural hillock |
| Castell Bach | Carmarthen / SN247275 | overgrown motte or ring-motte | |
| Baglan | Neath P.T. / SS756923 | 13th century | remains of rect. tower |
| Bala | Gwynedd / SH928361 | 1202 | motte visible |
| Ballan Moor | Monmouth / ST488895 | 11th century | motte and bailey |
| Banc y Bettws | Carmarthen / SN458155 | damaged ring-motte | |
| Bangor | Gwynedd / SH580729 | craggy site | |
| Barland | Powys / SO281618 | 12th century | motte and bailey |
| Barry | V of Glamorgan / ST102673 | 1316 | slight masonry - gate |
| Basingwerk | Flintshire / SJ222734 | 1163 | motte castle |
| Beaumaris | Anglesey / SH607763 | 1295 | essentially complete |
| Old Beaupre | V of Glamorgan / ST009721 | 1376 | essentially complete |
| Beddugre | Montgomery / SO101895 | enclosure w/bailey | |
| Beeston | Cheshire | 1225 | substantial masonry |
| Beganston | V of Glamorgan / ST147744 | ringwork castle | |
| Begelly | Pembroke / SN117072 | motte or ringwork destroyed | |
| Benton | Pembroke / SN005069 | 13th century | some original masonry |
| Berriew | Montgomery | motte and bailey | |
| Bettws Cedewain | Montgomery | damaged motte and bailey | |
| Bicton | Shropshire / SO28938256 | C11-C12 | much mutilated motte |
| Bishop's Castle | Shropshire / SO323891 | motte w/masonry fragments | |
| Bishop's Moat | Shropshire | 1120 | earthworks visible |
| Bishopton | V of Glamorgan | ringwork | |
| Blackbridge (Castle Pill) | Pembroke / SM919064 | possible rignwork | |
| Blaenllynfi | Powys / SO145229 | 1215 | some masonry |
| Blaenporth, Ralph's | Pembroke / SN266488 | 1116 | motte / trace masonry |
| Bleddfa | Powys / SO209628 | rebuilt 1195 | motte w/foundations of keep |
| Bolan | Neath P.T. / SS767920 | damaged motte and bailey | |
| Bonville's (Hen Castle) | Pembroke / SN125052 | tower house now buried | |
| Bonvilston | V of Glamorgan / ST071734 | ringwork castle | |
| Boughrood | Powys / SO132391 | 1205 | fallen masonry in motte |
| Boulston | Pembroke / SM981124 | ruined manor house | |
| Bovehill, Landimore | Swansea / SS464933 | 15th century | masonry walls |
| Brecon (no.1) | Powys / SO043288 | under construct 1093 | some masonry / tower |
| Brecon (no.2) | Powys | motte visible | |
| Bridgenorth | Salop | 1101 | keep |
| Broadward Hall | Shropshire / SO39367658 | small motte castle | |
| Brockhurst Castle | Shropshire / SO446926 | 1156 | motte & bailey survive |
| Brompton Mill | Shropshire / SO25099316 | 12C? | well-preserved motte |
| Bronfelin Motte | Powys / SO052913 | motte w/triangular bailey | |
| Bronllys | Powys / SO149346 | 1144 | large masonry tower |
| Bryn Castell | Conwy / SH785719 | motte survives | |
| Bryn Derwen Motte | Powys / SO163952 | motte & bailey destroyed | |
| Bryn y Cwn | Flint / SJ237714 | motte castle | |
| Buddugre | Powys | motte and bailey | |
| Builth (no.2) | Powys / SO044510 | 1210 | earthworks visible |
| Burfa | Powys / SO275611 | motte and bailey | |
| Bwlch y Dinas, Castell Ddinas | Powys / SO179301 | 12th century | slight masonry |
| Cae Castell | Swansea / SN694047 | 12th century | small ringwork |
| Castell Caemardy | Powys / SO035530 | small motte | |
| Caer Beris Motte | Powys / SO030507 | c.1100 | motte survives |
| Caer Lichyn | Newport / ST390927 | worn motte visible | |
| Caer Penrhos | SN552695 | 1149 | ringwork & ditch survive |
| Caer Siac Motte | Powys / SO129972 | damaged motte w/2 baileys | |
| Caerau | Cardiff / ST136750 | 12th century | ringwork visible |
| Caerau Motte | Powys / SN923501 | possible motte on Roman site | |
| Caereinion | Powys / SJ163055 | 1156 | damaged motte and bailey |
| Caergwrle, Hope | Flintshire / SJ307572 | 1277 | substantial masonry |
| Caerleon | Newport / ST342905 | 1086 | motte - some masonry and towers |
| Caernarfon (old) | Gwynedd / SH477626 | 1090 | damaged motte and bailey |
| Caernarfon | Gwynedd/ SH477626 | 1283 | essentially complete |
| Caerphilly | Caerphilly / ST155870 | 1267 | essentially complete |
| Caerwedros | Ceredigion / SN376557 | 1136 | motte |
| Caerwent | Monmouth / ST471904 | c.1070 | motte visible |
| Caldy | Pembroke / SS140963 | fortified monastic building | |
| Caldicot | Monmouth / ST487885 | 1150 | essentially complete |
| Camlais | Powys / SN956260 | 1265 | motte / tower foundations |
| Camrose | Pembroke / SM927198 | motte with traces of bailey | |
| Candleston | Bridgend / SS871771 | 14th century | some masonry |
| Cans (Cymaron?) | 1134 | motte & bailey | |
| Cardiff | Cardiff / ST180767 | 1081 | motte w/stone keep |
| Cardigan (no.1) | Ceredigion / SN164464 | 1094 | embanked work against cliff |
| Cardigan (no.2) | Ceredigion / SN177459 | 1110 | substantial masonry |
| Carew | Pembroke / SN038035 | 1212 | essentially complete |
| Carmarthen | Carmarthen / SN413200 | 1116 | parts of wall, gate, hall |
| Carn Fadryn | Gwynedd | 1188 | stone-walled hillfort |
| Carndochan | Gwynedd / SH846306 | 13th century | some masonry |
| Carnwillion | motte castle | ||
| Carreg Cennen | Carmarthen / SN668191 | before 1198 | substantial masonry |
| Carreghofa | Powys / SJ255222 | 1101 | enclosure castle |
| Castell Dol-Wllf | Ceredigion | destroyed castle ringwork | |
| Castell-y-Bere | Gwynedd / SH667086 | 1221 | some masonry |
| Castell-y-Blaidd | Powys / SO125798 | possibly pre-historic | uncompleted ringwork |
| Castell y Domen | Carmarthen / SN436126 | mound w/rock-cut ditch | |
| Castell y Fran | Pembroke / SN081222 | disputed motte | |
| Castell y Garreg | Carmarthen / SN572157 | small mound largely destroyed | |
| Castlebythe (Castell y Bwch) | Pembroke / SN021290 | motte w/possible bailey | |
| Castle Tump | Carmarthen | motte visible | |
| Castlemartin | Pembroke | ringwork and bailey | |
| Castleton (St Athan) | V.of Glamorgan / ST024684 | farmhouse built into castle? | |
| Caus | Salop | 1198 | motte/3 baileys, masonry remains |
| Cawr | Conwy / SH936767 | mound visible | |
| Cefn Mably | Caerphilly / ST224841 | no remains of 13c castle? | |
| Cefn Uchaf | Powys / SJ148254 | mound visible | |
| Cefnbryntalch Motte | Powys / SO175963 | hilltop site w/enclosures | |
| Cefnllys 1 | Powys / SO089614 | 1242 | turfed-over walls & towers |
| Cefnllys 2 | Powys / SO089614 | 1273 | motte / slight masonry |
| Cenarth | Ceredigion / SN269414 | 12th century | motte visible |
| Ceri | Powys | 1165 | motte and bailey |
| Chepstow | Monmouth / ST533941 | 1067 | essentially complete |
| Chirk (no.1) | Wrexham / SJ292375 | before 1155 | motte |
| Chirk (no.2) | Wrexham / SJ268380 | 1295 | essentially complete |
| Cil Ifor | Swansea / SS505923 | possible castle site | |
| Cilgerran | Pembroke / SN195431 | 1108 | substantial masonry |
| Cilwhybert Motte | Powys / SO014268 | motte | |
| Clawdd Brythonig | Powys / SN826369 | disputed ringwork | |
| Cleobury | destroyed 1155 | ||
| Clifford | Hereford / Worcester | 1075 | some masonry |
| Clun | Shropshire | 1140-50 | some masonry / tower |
| Clungunford | Shropshire / SO39567878 | small motte castle | |
| Clyro | Powys / SO214436 | 1070 | trace masonry |
| Castell Coch | Powys | 1230 | slight masonry |
| Castell Coch | Cardiff / ST131826 | 1260 | old castle built over |
| Coed Allt | Flint / SJ144769 | disputed site | |
| Coed-y-Cwm | V of Glamorgan / ST083737 | 15th century | trace masonry |
| Coity | Bridgend / SS923816 | 1126 | substantial masonry |
| Collen | Powys / SO055928 | Roman fort | |
| Colwyn (no.1) | Powys / SO108540 | rebuilt 1144 | earthworks visible |
| Colwyn (no.2) | Powys | 1200 | ringwork |
| Conwy | Conwy / SH775784 | 1283 | essentially complete |
| Corwen | Denbigh / SJ079435 | motte | |
| Cosmeston | V.of Glamorgan / ST177688 | disputed castle enclosure | |
| Castell Cossan | Carmarthen / SN202268 | weak mound | |
| Cottrell | V of Glamorgan / ST081745 | ringwork castle | |
| Cowbridge (town walls) | V of Glamorgan / SS994746 | 1300 | town walls |
| Criccieth | Gwynedd / SH500377 | 1230s | substantial masonry |
| Crickadarn 2 (Waun Gunllwch) | Powys / SO059413 | earthworks visible | |
| Crickadarn 1 | Powys / SO088421 | ringwork | |
| Crickhowell | Powys / SO217182 | 12th century | motte w/some masonry |
| Crogen | Gwynedd / SJ006370 | 1202 | |
| Crugyn Newcastle | Shropshire / SO24398206 | 12th or 13th C | heavily erroded motte |
| Crugen Tump | Powys / SO169813 | ||
| Crug Eryr | Powys | 12th century | motte visible |
| Crugerydd | Carmarthen / SN535394 | 1188 | scanty remains |
| Castell Crwn | Anglesey / SH332909 | ringwork w/ditch | |
| Castell Crychydd (Heron's) | Pembroke / SN261348 | ringwork, bailey, with foundations | |
| Cwm Aran | Powys | prob built 1093 | aka Cymaron |
| Cwrt Gwynne | Powys / SO215447 | motte and bailey | |
| Cwrt Llechryd | Powys / SO027532 | mounds/disputed site | |
| Cwrt-y-Vil | V of Glamorgan / ST177689 | wall fragment | |
| Cymaron | Powys | prob built 1093 | aka Cwm Aran |
| Cymer | Gwynedd / SH732195 | 1116 | motte visible |
| Castell Cynen | Pembroke / SN155146 | overgrown ringwork | |
| Cynfael | Gwynedd / SH615016 | 1147 | motte & ditches |
| Dale | Pembroke / SM805058 | 13th century | modernized medeival castle |
| Ddinas, Bwlch y Dinas | Powys / SO179301 | 12th century | trace masonry |
| Domen Ddreiniog (Thorny Motte) | Gwynedd / SH598037 | motte & bailey survive | |
| Degannwy | Conwy / SH795783 | 1093 | trace masonry |
| Denbigh | Denbigh / SJ051657 | 1282 | substantial masonry |
| Deudraeth | Gwynedd / SH588372 | 1188 | motte w/folly tower |
| Dinas Bran | Denbigh / SJ223430 | 1277 | some masonry |
| Dinas Emrys | Gwynedd / SH606492 | 13th century | slight masonry |
| Dinas Powys (no.1) | V of Glamorgan / ST148722 | ringwork predecessor of no.2 | |
| Dinas Powys (no.2) | V of Glamorgan / ST152716 | late 11th century | slight masonry |
| Dinefwr | Carmarthen / SN611217 | 1150 | substantial masonry |
| Dingestow 1 (Millwood) | Monmouth / SO460104 | 1180 | motte castle |
| Dingestow 2 | Monmouth / SO455104 | 1182 | square platform and bailey |
| Dingstopple | Pembroke / SN061186 | small mound w/ditch | |
| Dinham | Monmouth / ST480923 | 1150 | rectangular tower and foundations |
| Dinieithon | 1093 | ||
| Dinierth | Ceredigion / SN495624 | 1110 | motte w/masonry rubble |
| Dinweilir | unidentified | 1145 | motte & bailey possibly Pencader |
| Dixton | Monmouth | 11th century | low motte on Roman site |
| Dolaucothi 1 | Carmarthen / SN662401 | suspect mound beside gold mines | |
| Dolaucothi 2 | Carmarthen / SN663403 | suspect mound beside gold mines | |
| Dolbadarn | Gwynedd / SH586598 | 1220-30 | substantial masonry |
| Dolbedwin | Powys / SO203491 | motte | |
| Dolbenmaen | Gwynedd / SH507431 | 12th century | motte visible |
| Dolforwyn | Powys / SO152950 | 1273 | substantial masonry |
| Dol-Wlff | Cardigan / SN520445 | mostly destroyed ringwork | |
| Dolwyddelan | Conwy / SH722523 | 1220-30 | some masonry (tower) |
| Domen Castell | Powys | 1196 | motte visible |
| Domen Las | Ceredigion | 1156 | motte visible |
| Dorstone | Hereford & Worcester | motte visible | |
| Drim | Pembroke / SN067194 | fragmentary earthwork | |
| Castell y Drim (Drum) | Pembroke / SN064196 | small mound or ringwork | |
| Dryslwyn | Carmarthen / SN554203 | 1245 | substantial masonry |
| Dulas | Powys / SN961771 | small ringwork w/double moat | |
| Dunraven | V of Glamorgan / SS888728 | 12th century | old castle built over |
| Dyffryn Mawr | Pembroke / SN175351 | earthworks visible | |
| Dyserth | Denbigh / SJ060799 | 1241 | masonry ward w/2 baileys |
| Eardisley | Hereford & Worcester | surviving motte | |
| Eastington | Pembroke / SM901024 | later fortified house | |
| Ednyfed's Castle | Conwy / SH833802 | 13th century | old castle built over |
| Eglwys Cross | Wrexham | large low mound w/bailey | |
| Eglwyswrw (no.1) | Pembroke / SN138383 | ringwork and foundations | |
| Eglwyswrw (no.2) | Pembroke | partial ringwork | |
| Egremont | Carmarthen / SN094204 | damaged square ringwork | |
| Evancoyd | Powys / SO261631 | motte | |
| Evenjobb (no.1) | Powys / SO266625 | motte and bailey | |
| Evenjobb (no.2) | Powys | possible motte and bailey | |
| Ewloe | Flintshire / SJ288675 | 1150 | substantial masonry |
| Ewyas Harold | Herefordshire | 1051 | motte and bailey |
| Castell Fartin | Pembroke / SM943368 | damaged motte or ringwork | |
| Felin Cwrws | Ceredigion / SN351411 | partial ringwork | |
| Felin Isaf | V of Glamorgan / ST061793 | motte visible | |
| Flemingston | V.of Glamorgan / ST017700 | late medeival fortified manor | |
| Fforest | Powys | motte | |
| Flint | Flintshire / SJ247733 | 1277 | substantial masonry |
| Fonmon | V of Glamorgan / ST047681 | 1200 | slight early masonry |
| Garn Coch Motte | Powys / SO213477 | small worn motte | |
| Garn Fadryn | Gwynedd / SH278352 | 1190 | fort inside ringwork |
| Garn Fawr | Carmarthen / SN396238 | large well preserved ringwork | |
| Garn y Castell | Powys / SO158297 | 1144 | destroyed motte? |
| Gelli Garn | V.of Glamorgan / SS960787 | small ringwork & bailey | |
| Gelligaer | Caerphilly / ST137969 | 1196? | motte visible |
| Glan Edw | Powys / SO116542 | c.1093 | enclosure w/motte |
| Glan Mynys | Carmarthen / SN731326 | low lying motte | |
| Castell Glas, Maesglas | Newport / ST302858 | remains of a low motte | |
| Glasbury | Powys / SO175392 | 1144 | site beneath modern housing |
| Glantanat Isaf | Powys / SJ149239 | motte & rock-cut ditch | |
| Owain Glyndwr's Mount | Denbigh / SJ125431 | motte & bailey | |
| Glynpatel, Green Castle, Crinow | Pembroke / SN128142 | small motte & possible bailey | |
| Goodrich | Herefordshire | 1100 | substantial masonry |
| Goytre | Monmouth | low motte w/foundations of keep | |
| Graben | Powys | motte | |
| Greencastle (Moel) | Carmarthen / SN397162 | traces of motte & bailey | |
| Greencastle | Carmarthen / SN396166 | 15th century | fortified house |
| Gro Tump | Powys / SO123922 | motte and bailey | |
| Grosmont | Monmouth / SO405244 | 1138 | substantial masonry |
| Guanceste | Powys / SO156569 | worn earthwork w/small motte | |
| Guan Gunllwch | Powys | ringwork | |
| Gwallter | Ceredigion / SN622868 | 1136 | motte w/ditch |
| Upper Gwarthlow | Shropshire / SO39567878 | turf-covered motte | |
| Gwerclas Mound | Denbigh / SJ052421 | disputed castle? mound | |
| Gwern y Domen | Caerphilly / ST175878 | ringwork | |
| Gwyddgwg | Carmarthen / SN477356 | 1146 | heavily damaged motte |
| Gwrych | Conwy | 12th century | modern folly replaced medeival |
| Gwydir | Gwynedd / SH796610 | 15th century | fortified medieval manor |
| Gwynionydd | Ceredigion / SN424420 | overgrown ringwork |
Table 2: H through N
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Copyright © 2009 by Jeffrey L. Thomas