The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Kenfig Castle

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00148m
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Margam
Unitary authority : Neath Port Talbot
NGR : SS80088268
Site Type (preferred type first) : Medieval Castle
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
The dating of Kenfig Castle is not clear. The town & castle have been burned several times. It continued in good repair until 1405 when it was dismantled.

Description :
The dating of Kenfig Castle is not clear. The town & castle have been burned several times. It continued in good repair until 1405 when it was dismantled. Earliest mention of castle is 1185 AD (sub anno 893). The structure included the Keep astride to the rampart of pebbles and a large bailey ( about 8 acres). Square with rounded corners, sides about 198 yards long. It appears that later the castle was repaired and used as a local gaol. A small town that grew around the 12th century castle thrived during the 12th to 14th centuries.

Area of the old town near the castle.
Building approx. 8m by 5m consists of clay walls c1.5m thick, resting on a masonry base of about 3 courses. Present maximum height c1m. Traces of another building or wall to the north east of the building. Collapsed walls of the building were covered with sand; suggests that the building must have collapsed before around c.1320 (Robbins T).

Sources :
Davis, P. R , 2010 , Kenfig Castle, Pyle
Nesta Jones G. , 1924 , Kenfig
Richard A.J , 1927 , Kenfig Castle , Archaeologia Cambrensis : 82 : 161-182
Richard A.J , 1932 , Kenfig Castle, Glamorgan , The Buletin of the Board of Celtic Studies : VI pt.III : 294-295
Richard A.J. , 1931 , Kenfig Castle, Glamorgan , The Buletin of the Board of Celtic Studies : VI pt.I : 98
Robbins T , 1997 , Gazetteer of Sites Explored. Kenfig, Castle environs , Archaeology in Wales : 37 : 81-84
Seward E. , 1906 , Some Churches and Castles in Glamorgan , Transactions of Cardiff Naturalist Society : XXXIX : 78-95
Smith E.G. , 1931/32 , Kenfig Castle and Mawdlam Church
Wheeler R.E.M. , 1923 , Kenfig Castle, Glam. , The Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies : II pt.III : 264-265
01/MM Record Card/OS//1957/SS 88 SW 17/;
02/PM Desc Text//Gray T/1909/Burried City of Kenfig/p.56;
06/PM Desc Text//1926-7&1929-31/Bull Board Celtic Stud/Vol.3 p.241;
05/PM List//Armitage E.S/1912/E.Norman Castles of British Isles/;
p.296;
07/PM Desc Text/DOE//1919/Mid Glam Imp Rept/5.2.1
03/pm desc text/RCAHM//1991/Invent III 1a/EM2
04/PM Desc Text//Shepard C.F/1946/Sidelights on Glam Parishes/p40-1;
09/Desc Text/Cadw/ Full Management Report/2005/Copy in further information file

Events :
E000160 : Kenfig Castle (year : 1927)
E003603 : Kenfig, Bridgend (year : 2011)
E003605 : Kenfig, Bridgend (year : 2011)
E006590 : Kenfig Dunes, Kenfig, Bridgend (year : 2021)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 410002

Compiled date : 01-02-1977


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