Domen Las, Ysgubor y Coed (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Abereinion; Aberdyfi; Aberdovey; Glan Dyfi; Tomen Las; Domenlas

In the community of Ysgubor y Coed.
In the historic county of Cardiganshire.
Modern authority of Ceredigion.
Preserved county of Dyfed.

OS Map Grid Reference: SN68729687
Latitude 52.55371° Longitude -3.93712°

Domen Las, Ysgubor y Coed has been described as a certain Timber Castle.

There are earthwork remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

Description

The medieval castle of Domen Las is represented by a castle mound or motte. This is notable for the way that it is fitted into the natural topography and for the remarkable configuration of its ditch. The castle faces north-east across the upper Dyfi estuary towards Pennal, the court of the Princes of Gwynedd in Merioneth (see NPRN 302965), and was built in 1156 to counter those Princes' ambitions in Ceredigion. It may then have been the sole castle in Geneu'r-glyn commote, as Castell Gwallter at Llandre is not heard of after 1153 (see NPRN 92234). Domen Las is probably the castle of Abereinion mentioned in 1169 and 1206. The castle mound is set near the northern tip of an isolated straggling rocky ridge rising from the marshes. It is a circular flat-topped mound roughly 34m in diameter and 5.0m high. It is ditched around except on the south-east, where the ground falls steeply into the marsh. On the west side a rocky ridge serves is co-opted as a counterscarp. On the north side the ditch has the appearance of a regular basin, closed on the east side by a wall of rock pierced by a narrow gap. This could be a pond or cistern, and is surely an original feature. There are no traces of any further earthworks. The castle mound was probably crowned by a great timber-framed tower and it is likely that a princely hall and associated offices stood nearby. These could have occupied the irregular platform on the northern tip of the spur above the river, although there is a more a more amenable location on the south side of the motte, where a level area is sheltered by the rocky ridge. A little to the south a small bank cuts across the ridge. This was probably a hedge bank and may be comparatively recent. (Coflein–John Wiles 11.02.08)

Sources of information, references and further reading

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s) for this site is/are 303600.
The County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) for this site is/are 4031.

Books
- Purton, P.F., 2009, A History of the Early Medieval Siege c. 450-1220 (Woodbridge: The Boydell Press) p. 316
  Butler, L., 2009, 'The Castles of the Princes of Gwynedd' in Willams, D. and Kenyon, J. (eds), The Impact of the Edwardian Castles in Wales (Oxbow) p. 27-36
  Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 235 (listed)
  Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 41
  Davis, Paul, 2000, A Company of Forts. A Guide to the Medieval Castles of West Wales (Gomer Press) p. 31
  Salter, Mike, 1996, The Castles of South West Wales (Malvern) p. 46 (slight)
  Davis, Paul R., 1988, Castles of the Welsh Princes (Swansea)
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 47
  Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p. 322
  Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 84
  Owen, Henry (ed), 1936, The Description of Pembrokeshire (London) Vol. 4 p. 486-8
  Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p. 300 view online copy
  Meyrick, Sir Samuel Rush, 1810, The History and Antiquities of the County of Cardigan (London) p. 146
Periodical Articles
- Wiles, John, 2012-13, 'A note on the two castles of Genau'r-glyn Ceredigion' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol. 26 p. 190-95 (plan)
  Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124
  Brown, R, Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol. 74 p. 249-280 (Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 90-121) view online copy (subscription required)
  King, D.J.C., 1956, 'The Castles of Cardiganshire' Ceredigion Vol. 3 p. 66 no. 28 view online copy
  Wright, 1914, Aberystwyth Studies Vol. 2 p. 66-7
Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents -This section is far from complete, particularly for the major royal castles and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
- William ab Ithel (ed), 1860, Brut y Tywysogion Jesus MS 111 (Red Book of Hergest) view online copy Scan of original manuscript
  Williams (ab Ithel), John, (ed), 1860, Annales Cambriae (444 – 1288) (London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts)s.a. 1169 view online copy

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