ALLT Y FERIN, EARTHWORK CASTLE & SITE OF POSSIBLE SUMMER HOUSE

Site Details

NPRN
303983
Map Reference
SN52SW
Grid Reference
SN52212328
Unitary (Local) Authority
Carmarthenshire
Old County
Carmarthenshire
Community
Llanegwad
Type of Site
CASTLE
Broad Class
Defence
Period
Medieval

Site Description

The earthworks at Allt y Fern are thought to represent a medieval motte and bailey castle superimposed upon an earlier promontory enclosure: the motte is a near-circular steep-sided mound, 27-8m in diameter & rising 6.0m to an 9.0-10m diameter summit, ditched about on all sides; it is inset into the eastern angle of a subrectangular enclosure some 52m north-east to south-west, having a north-east facing rampart & ditch beyond which a further roughly 84m sweep of rampart and ditch covers both motte and bailey from the level ground on this side; the remainder of the enclosure is defined by scarps above steep natural slopes, a 25m section of ditch cutting off the 50m tail of the promontory: OS County series (Carmarthen. XXXII.15 1889) appears to show a 9.0m diameter circular structure set upon the summit of the mound, which is surrounded by a 25m diameter boundary, apparently set at the base of the ditch: these last features may be associated with Plas Alltyferin (Nprn120788).

J.Wiles 24.03.05