Castell Dinas (The Gatehouse Record)

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Bwlch y Ddinas; Castell Ddinas; Bwlch y Dinas; Bulkdinas; Waynards Castle

In the community of Talgarth.
In the historic county of Brecknockshire.
Modern authority of Powys.
Preserved county of Powys.

OS Map Grid Reference: SO17883010
Latitude 51.9629° Longitude -3.1965°

Castell Dinas has been described as a certain Timber Castle, and also as a certain Masonry Castle.

There are masonry footings remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

Description

The complex of defensive earthworks at Castell Dinas cover an area c.363m by 280m and represent the remains of an extensive masonry castle constructed over the site of an Iron Age enclosure (King 1961, 77-8; Kay 1964; RCAHMW 1986, 96-9). The castle is thought to have been constructed in the later twelfth century as it is first mentioned in 1234. It is described in a survey of 1337 (Walker 1999) and is thought to have passed out of use thereafter. Leyland reported that the castle had been destroyed in the reign of Henry IV. (Coflein)

Castle comprising curtain wall defining two wards and enclosed a keep c30m by 12m. All much ruined. Built within and utilising Iron Age hillfort (PRN 50422) defences. Castle remains are largely inside the northern half of the hillfort's inner enclosure. Used same entrance as earlier hillfort. Part of gatehouse survives, with 3 sides standing up to 1m high. Halfway along the west side, and at the north end of the enclosure are 2 mounds which are presumably the remains of towers of the curtain wall which ran along the top of the inner rampart (Cadw 1998). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

This was a sizeable masonry castle but, as so often in this part of Wales, the poor quality of local mortar has meant time has left only a sad pile of rubble as testament to its past.

Sources of information, references and further reading

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s) for this site is/are 92015.
The County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) for this site is/are 50423.

Websites (Gatehouse is not responsible for the content of external websites.)
- Jeff Thomas's Castles of Wales
  Paul Martin Remfry
Books
- Davis, Paul, R., 2011, The Forgotten Castles of Wales (Almeley: Logaston Press) p. 82-86
  Kenyon, John, 2010, The Medieval Castles of Wales (University of Wales Press) p. 112
  Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p. 231 (listed)
  Remfry, P.M., 2007, Castell Bwlch y Dinas and the families of Neufmarché, Hereford, Braose, Fitz Herbert, Mortimer and Talbot (Castle Studies Research & Publishing)
  Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p. 21
  Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p. 12
  Remfry, Paul, 1998, Castles of Breconshire (Logaston Press) p. 154-161 (plan)
  Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p. 50
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 18
  Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p. 327
  Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 126
  Downman, E.A., 1916, Ancient Earthworks in Radnorshire
  Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales view online copy view online copy
Periodical Articles
- Walker, 1999, 'Bwlchyddinas Castle, Breconshire, and the survey of 1337' Brycheiniog Vol. 31 p. 19-30 view online copy
  Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132
  Kay, 1964, Brycheiniog Vol. 10 p. 15-27
  Kay, Richard E., 1964, 'Castell Dinas Parish of Talgarth, Brecknockshire' Brycheiniog Vol. 10 p. 15-27 online copy
  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
  Kay, 1964, Brycheiniog p. 15-27
  King, D.J.C., 1961, ‘The castles of Breconshire’ Brycheiniog Vol. 7 p. 77-8 no. 5 view online copy
  Lloyd, 1936, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 91 p. 369-70
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.)
- Dugdale, William (Caley, J., Ellis, H. and Bandinel, B. (eds)), 1817-30 (originally pub. 1655-73), Monasticon Anglicanum (London) Vol. 3 p. 265b view online copy
  William ab Ithel (ed), 1860, Brut y Tywysogion Jesus MS 111 (Red Book of Hergest) 1233 view online copy Scan of original manuscript
  Williams (ab Ithel), John, (ed), 1860, Annales Cambriae (444 – 1288) (London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts)1233 view online copy
  Jones, T. (ed), 1948, 'Cronica de Wallia and other documents' Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies Vol. 12 p. 27-44 (1233)
  Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1895, Calendar of Close Rolls Edward II (1318-1323) Vol. 3 p. 415 view online copy (subscription required)
  Rickard, John, 2002, The Castle Community. The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272-1422 (Boydell Press) (lists sources for 1272-1422) p. 1014-5
Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
- William Camden, 1607, Britannia hypertext critical edition by Dana F. Sutton (2004)
  Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1906, Leland's Itinerary in Wales (Bell and Sons; London) p. 108 view online copy

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