Sully Castle

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Ringwork), and also as a Certain Masonry Castle, and also as a Fortified Manor House

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains

NameSully Castle
Alternative Names
Historic CountryGlamorgan
Modern AuthorityVale of Glamorgan
1974 AuthoritySouth Glamorgan
CommunitySully

A small but complex fortified manor of many periods. Destroyed 1828. The excavations of 1963-69, lead by Gary Dowdell, on the site of the castle revealed six phases of occupation ranging from the Romano-British to C17-C18. Four were medieval (phases 2-5) from which were deduced two main periods of building: I, an earthwork (probably a ringwork) of C12 to which a stone keep was added (phases 2-3), and II, a fortified manor-house of C13 and early C14. Fragments of painted wallplaster of unknown date were also recovered. (Derived from Coflein)

Gatehouse Comments

Rob Prince, who took part in the excavations, kindly informs Gatehouse that 'part of a wall and one gate remain at the rear of Sully church, and form part of the church's perimeter wall (north eastern corner)'.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceST151683
Latitude51.4075012207031
Longitude-3.22137999534607
Eastings315160
Northings168340
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image

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Books

  • Davis, Paul, R., 2011, The Forgotten Castles of Wales (Almeley: Logaston Press) p. 142-4
  • < >RCAHMW, 1991, An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan Vol. 3 Part 1a: The Early Castles (London: HMSO) < > EM6 p. 343-7
  • Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p. 64
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 172
  • Davis, Paul R., 1983, Castles of Glamorgan (Alun Books) p. 42
  • Hague, D.B., 1971, in Pugh, T.B. (ed), Glamorgan County History Vol. 3 The Middle Ages (Cardiff) p. 447
  • Homfray, Jeston, 1828, The Castles of the Lordship of Glamorgan (Cardiff) p. 33 and plate

Journals

  • Dowdell, Gareth, 1990, 'Excavations at Sully Castle 1963-69' Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies Vol. 37
  • Spurgeon, Jack, 1987, 'The Castles of Glamorgan' Château Gaillard Vol. 13 p. 209n, 222
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132
  • Dowdell, G., 1966, 'Recent archaeological excavation and discovery in Glamorgan' Morgannwg Vol. 10 p. 67 (Interim report) online copy

Other

  • Rob Prince, 6-1-2009, Pers corr