CASTELL TAN-Y-CASTELL;OLD ABERYSTWYTH CASTLE
Site Details
Site Details
Online Images (22)
Associated Collection Records (27)
- NPRN
- 301795
- Map Reference
- SN57NE
- Grid Reference
- SN58517900
- Unitary (Local) Authority
- Ceredigion
- Old County
- Cardiganshire
- Community
- Llanfarian
- Type of Site
- CASTLE
- Broad Class
- Defence
- Period
- Medieval
Site Description
The original castle at Aberystwyth was built in 1110 by the Earl of Clare and occupied by the Normans until 1136. The Welsh controlled it from from 1136 to 1143. The site comprises a large oval ringwork castle on the back of a ridge, with a bailey 120ft long running along the ridge and protected by a scarp up to 13ft high; the ringwork measures 90ft by 70ft. The site was excavated in 1956-7, revealing that the castle was extensively damaged circa 1143 or later and that another period of occupation commenced about 1200AD, when the ruins were levelled and the gateway strengthened.
Sources:
OS 495 card: SN57NE2
Ceredigion 3 1956-9 65, D.J.C King
CBA Gp 2 NL 1 1961 11-12 C.H. Houlder
RCAHMW, March 2001.
