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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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Cefn Barn Ringwork, Trefeca Fawr

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as;
Trefecca Fawr; Trefeca-fawr; Cefn Bank; Weynards Castle; Waynards castle; Castellum Waynardi

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

OS Map Grid Reference: SO14523140
Latitude 51.97440° Longitude -3.24606°

Cefn Barn Ringwork, Trefeca Fawr has been described as a probable Timber Castle, and also as a probable Masonry Castle.

There are masonry footings remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

Description

A sub-circular enclosure, c.24m by 21m, defined by a bank and ditch, with an entrance to the E. Suggested identification as "castellum Waynardi" (mentioned 1143-55). (Coflein)

The monument comprises the remains of a well preserved castle-ringwork, which dates to the early part of the medieval period (c. AD 1066 - 1485). The ringwork is roughly circular in plan, measuring 27m N/S and 23m E/W with a discontinuous bank and ditch defining the outer edge of the enclosure. The interior is flat. The bank is steep sided, a maximum of 1m high on the inside and 2.2m high on the outside, and surrounded by a shallow ditch, 0.3m to 0.5m deep. The ditch is intermittent and does not survive on the S or E sides. There is a gap in the bank on the E side which may be the original entrance. At the W end of the site is a stone outcrop at the foot of the bank which is around 3m high. A hollow to the S of the outcrop may be the result of quarrying. (Scheduling Report)
Comments

It is suggested that possibly the ringbank is rubble remains of masonry enclosure wall. Salter identified this as a predecessor or siege-camp. No real reason to think it was a predecessor site. The location, on a hillside, has some value as a siege work but would be vulnerable to counter attack but there is no history of a siege and a siege of such length as to make building such a fortification worthwhile would probably be recorded. Possibly an Iron Age farmstead with drystone enclosure wall but does seem to be well accepted as medieval by the usual authorities.
Waynard's Castle is an unidentified castle mentioned in mid C12 Charter, near Talgarth, identified as possible Trefecca Fawr by Remfry and as either Trefeca, Trefeca fawr or, most favoured, Garn y Castell by King.
Links to archaeological and architectural databases, mapping and other online resources

Data >
Coflein   County HER   Scheduling        
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Streetmap   NLS maps   Where's the path   Old-Maps      
Data/Maps > 
Magic   Historic Wales   V. O. B.   Geology   LIDAR  
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Sources of information, references and further reading
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This record last updated 05/07/2016 17:28:21


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