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Clawyd British 'Motte'

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Clawdd Brythonig; Llandeilor-fan

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

OS Map Grid Reference: SN86253687
Latitude 52.01853° Longitude -3.65902°

Clawyd British 'Motte' 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

Clawdd Brythonig has been described as 'a small camp of obscure purpose', this is interpreted as an Iron Age defended enclosure, with an internal platform, 35m by 13m separated from the encircling ramparts by a probable quarry-ditch. The rampart does not continue about the east end, where the ground tails away to a natural spur and the entrance is thought to be located. Suggestions that this is a medieval castle site are not now favoured. 140m to the SE is a second, undated enclosure (Nprn90149), whilst the surrounding area has been much affected by recent military activity (see Nprn90150). (Coflein)

Sub rectangular 2 ditched enclosure some 35m E-W by 13m N-S interenally. Probable entrance at SE corner. Sited on SE pointing spur. Formerly noted as ringmotte by Savory, H.N., 1952 but probably an Iron Age hillslope enclosure. The site measures about 39m N/S by 30m, is roughly oval in shape with an external bank and an internal ditch. The bank is about 5m wide and the ditch is 7m wide. There is some internal damage at SN 8625 3688, possibly military disruption. On the south and west faces there is an external ditch and the east face has been cut by the road. There is a simple entrance in the south face with a hollow way heading south into the valley. The existing road runs parallel to this. Further disturbance in the southeast corner is military in origin (Boucher, A & Crooks, K, 2000). An unusual feature is an internal ditch which is 4m wide and runs around the inner edge of the bank, thus making the level interior small in comparison with the defences. The fact the inner bank is complete and comparatively uniform suggests it may well be original rather than a later disturbance. (Cadw 1994). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

Has been scheduled as a medieval enclosure but now considered Iron Age. although called a 'motte' by some authors thIsolated location, although recorded by King he had doubts about this site and nothing about the site location or form suggest any medieval construction or even use.
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Sources of information, references and further reading

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The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales, the four welsh archaeological trusts and other individuals and organisations. All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes.
I do not receive any income from this site and I fund it myself. The information within this site is provided freely by me for educational purposes only.
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.
The possible site or monument is represented on maps as a point location. This is a guide only. It should be noted that OS grid references defines an area, not a point location. In practice this means the actual center of the site or monument may often, but not always, be to the North East of the point shown.
Locations derived from OS grid references and from latitude longitiude may differ by a small distance.
Further information on mapping and location can be seen at this link.
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This record last updated on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
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