- Description
- Photos
- Details
- Books and Resources
- Links
A roughly rectangular enclosure, c.56m E-W by 30-56m, defined by banks and ditches to E and W and by a scarp terraced into rising ground on the N, has an irregular ditched mound/outcrop, resting on cliffs to the S. The mound carries traces of two masonry buildings, one of them a c.10m diameter round structure, and it is thought that the enclosure was walled. Castle thought to have been established by c.1200, last mentioned 1314 - as owned by Gilbert de Clare. The only native Welsh castle in Gwent.
| Name | Castell Meredydd |
|---|---|
| Alternative Names | Machen |
| Historic County | Monmouthshire |
| Community | Graig |
| Type | Masonry Castle Timber Castle |
| Confidence | Certain |
| Remains | Masonry foundations |
| Listed | Not listed |
| Scheduled Ancient Monument | Yes |
| Ordnance Survey Reference | ST225887 |
| Eastings | 322500 |
| Northing | 188700 |
| Coflein (RCAHMW) | 307828 | Historic Environment Record | 00028g |
StreetMaps
Books
- Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p242 [listed]
- Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p125
- Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p53-4
- Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p14
- Davis, Paul R., 1988, Castles of the Welsh Princes (Swansea)
- King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p285
- Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p365
Journals
- Dallimore, K.L., 1978-80, ‘An archaeological survey of the Machen Ridge, Monmouthshire’, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies Vol28 p469-503 [see p483,486-8]
- Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1970, 'Castles in Wales and the Marches (Additions and corrections to lists published in 1963 and 1967)' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol119 p119-124
- Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
- Renn, D.F., 1961, 'The round keeps of the Brecon region' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol110 p143
- 1927-8, Monmouthshire and Caerleon Antiquarian Association p11-15 [rather poor history only]
Primary Sources
- Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem Vol5 no538 [10 July 1314]
Clicking on an external link will open a new window