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The comprehensive gazetteer and bibliography of the medieval castles, fortifications and palaces of England, Wales, the Islands.
 
 
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Braich y Dinas

In the community of Llanfairfechan.
In the historic county of Caernarfonshire.
Modern authority of Conwy.
Preserved county of Gwynedd.

OS Map Grid Reference: SH70027383
Latitude 53.24544° Longitude -3.94947°

Braich y Dinas has been described as a Timber Castle although is doubtful that it was such.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

Description

A small hillfort on a rounded hillock with steep slopes on all sides except NE. There appears to have been a central enclosure of about 120' diameter with two additional rampants on the S and on the N. The walls were about 9' thick, of loose stones faced with upright slabs. The fort has been extensively robbed and the walls survive only to about 1' in height. There are traces of 14 huts, varying from 20'-30' in diameter. Most of them seem to be later than the rampants. The rampants were sectioned in 1925 and the central hut was partly excavated. No dating evidence was found. Terraced fields, more round huts, and a single long hut to the NE, outside the scheduled area. Dinas is a small hillfort which has been extensively robbed. It would appear to consist of a central enclosure some 40m in diameter with a central hut and three additional ramparts on the north and south sides. Traces of a further 13 huts, of 7-10m in diameter, lie within these additional ramparts. Partial excavation in the 1920's by Harold Hughes and Beazant Lowe revealed two quern fragments and fragments of a rubbing stone. (Coflein)

A small hillfort on a rounded hillock with steep slopes on all sides except NE. There appears to have been a central enclosure of about 120ft diameter with two additional ramparts on the S and on the N. The walls were about 9ft thick, of loose stones faced with upright slabs. The fort has been extensively robbed and the walls survive only to about 1ft in height. There are traces of 14 huts, varying from 20ft-30ft in diameter. Most of them seem to be later than the ramparts. The ramparts were sectioned in 1925 and the central hut was partly excavated. No dating evidence was found. The remains are nothing more than these of an enclosed hut group, rather unusually situated. (Gwynedd Archaeological Trust HER)
Comments

A small Iron Age hillfort in a strong natural position. Lewis writes "In this formidable post the remnant of the Welsh army is said to have been placed, as in a retreat of inviolable security, during the negotiations that were pending between Edward I. and Llewelyn, previously to the final submission of the principality to English authority." Not a medieval castle but Lewis account can not be dismissed and there is a possibility that some work was done to reinforce the prehistoric earthworks by Llewelyn's men.
Links to archaeological and architectural databases, mapping and other online resources

Data >
Coflein   County HER   Scheduling        
Maps >
Streetmap   NLS maps   Where's the path   Old-Maps      
Data/Maps > 
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.
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Further information on mapping and location can be seen at this link.
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This record last updated 02/07/2016 09:27:08


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