New Radnor Castle

Description

The castle at New Radnor was established in the mid thirteenth century. The surviving remains include an oval embanked enclosure, 50m by 30m, formed from a natural hillock. It is divided by double ditches from a second enclosure to the northwest, 154m by 60m, which is defined by banks and ditches. Both enclosures contain footings of masonry structures and are integrated into the town walls (Nprn303340) of New Radnor (Nprn33219). The castle was ruinous by the early sixteenth century. (Coflein)

Motte (truncated and scarped hill) topped by banked oval enclosure containing building foundations. Rectangular earthwork on the south side of the motte with one sub-division; less intelligible earthworks abut the inner face of the ring bank on the north west: some disturbance of the earthworks in recent times. Two massive ditches to north and west, the outer with two causeways across in. Rectangular bailey 154m by 60m on north west side known as Bailigas (Beili Glas). An ill-defined mounded platform lies adjacent to the outer motte ditch. Traces of rectangular structure against NW defences of the bailey. Bailey bank cut by later earthworks; faint ridge and furrow can be seen on APs within the bailey. A short stretch of bank beyond the northern corner of the bailey is assumed to be part of the defences and is scheduled: it may be a natural scarp. A double-banked trackway runs around the outer north-western edge of the bailey. (PRN 19120). The presumed original approach from the west had been destroyed by a later quarry (PRN 19121). Mentioned by Musson and Spurgeon as likely site for Dark Age fortified site: castle banks could be an extension of an earlier rectangular enclosure? (Musson, C R and Spurgeon, C J 1988, 107). The first castle, a wooden keep, was built by Saxon Harold in 1064 in the course of his march north to confront Gruffudd ap Llywelyn at Rhuddlan (Gregory, D, 1994, 46). New Radnor recorded as held by the king in Domesday; in 12th century held by Philip de Breos; captured in 1196 by Rhys ap Gruffydd, refurbished by William de Breos and occupied by Llywelyn ab Iorweth, his ally; subsequently captured and destroyed by King John 1216. Sacked by Llywelyn in 1231; rebuilt by the Earl of Cornwall 1233 and destroyed by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd and Simon de Montfort 1264. Castle and town sacked by Owain Glyndwr in 1401. In 1535 the castle was reported to have been beyond repair, but its gatehouse was intact enough to be converted into a prison (Gregory, D, 1994, 46). Part of the keep was visible in 1815 and a length of curtain wall was said to have survived into the mid 19th century. Remains of masonry were dug up during 18th and 19th centuries; in 1864 extensive excavations revaled foundation walls, arched doorways and windows, and a well in the castle dungeon. (Silvester, R J 1994a). (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust HER)

New Radnor Castle has suffered a turbulent history. A castle was first recorded at Radnor in Domesday as a possession of the crown and again later during the 12th century. It is not always clear however whether the references are to Old Radnor or New Radnor castles. During the 12th century Radnor castle was held by Phillip de Breose but was captured in 1196 by Rhys ap Gruffydd and later occupied by Llywelyn ab Iorweth. In 1216 it was captured and partially destroyed by King John. The New Radnor castle was in use during the 13th century as it was sacked by Llywelyn in 1231. The earl of Cornwall then rebuilt it in 1233 before it was again damaged by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and Simon de Montfort in 1264. The castle and town were sacked again in 1401 by Owain Glyndwr.
The castle today, although much damaged over the years, consists of a motte topped by a banked oval enclosure containing the foundations of buildings including a keep. Part of the keep survived as late as 1815 and a length of curtain wall still stood in the mid 19th century. To the north-west of the motte is a rectangular bailey known as Bailigas (Beili Glas). Traces of a rectangular structure can be seen against the north-west defences of the bailey. The bailey is cut by later earthworks, including the remains of ridge and furrow, showing the area was cultivated during medieval or later periods.
The original approach to the castle was from the west but this has been destroyed by quarrying. (Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust)

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period. A motte and bailey castle comprises a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil or stone (the motte) surrounded by, or adjacent to, one or more embanked enclosures (the bailey). Both may be surrounded by wet or dry ditches and could be further strengthened with palisades, revetments, and/or a tower on top of the motte. The motte at New Radnor overlooks the walled town to its south-east and is an oval embanked enclosure measuring c.50m north-east to south-west by c.30m, formed from a truncated and scarped natural hillock, with traces of building positions visible within it. On the north and west it is divided by massive double ditches up to c.10.8m deep from a rectangular bailey measuring c.154m by c.60m; two causeways across the ditches allow access between the two. Further traces of structures are visible within the bailey area, which is itself defended by a substantial bank and ditch along its north-west side; the bank stands c.1.0m above the interior and c.1.5m to c.2m above the ditch bottom. The walls of the adjacent town adjoin the defences of the castle, though the presumed entrance arrangements on the west have been destroyed by a later quarry. The history of the castle is obscured by confusion between New Radnor and Old Radnor; this site is thought to date from the mid 13th century, but which of the recorded ‘rebuildings’ during that period it represents is not clear. It was captured by Owain Glyndwr in 1401 and allowed to decay thereafter. (Scheduling Report)