The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Morlais Castle, Pant

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00443m
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Pant
Unitary authority : Merthyr Tydfil
NGR : SO04930960
Site Type (preferred type first) : Medieval Castle
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
Long oval-shaped hill-top site with a bank & ditch all round. Inside the ditch is the curtain wall, mostly collapsed but still standing in places. It may have been abandoned as early as 1295, following on-going Welsh rebellion against the English.

Description :
This strong castle on the northern border of Senghennydd Uwch Caeach near Merthyr Tydfil is largely reduced to rubble, but despite its condition and brief history it is of considerable archaeological, architectural and historical interest. Founded by Gilbert II de Clare c1288, it thereafter marked the northern limit of Glamorgan and symbolised the final subjugation of the upland commute's. It consists of a long oval-shaped hill-top site with a bank & ditch all round. Inside the ditch is the curtain wall, now mostly collapsed but still standing in places. It may have been abandoned as early as 1295, following on-going Welsh rebellion against the English.

Sources :
Robinson D.M , 1983 , An aerial survey at Morlais Castle, Merthyr Tydfil, Mid-Glam. , The Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies : XXX pt.3&4 : 431-440
Spurgeon C.J. & Thomas H.S. , 1978 , Medieval Glamorgan: An interim report on recent fieldwork , Morgannwg : 22 : 14-41
Strange J. , 1779 , An account of some remains of Roman and other antiquities in and near the town of Brecknock , Archaeologia : 1 : 294-307
Taylor G.A. , 1932/33 , Merthyr Museum and Morlais Castle
Wilkins C. , 1901 , Excursions of General meeting of August 1901 of Cambrian Archaeological Association , Archaeologia Cambrensis : 56 : 56-74
Youngs S.M. & Clark J. , 1982 , Medieval Britain in 1981 , Medieval Archaeology : 26 : 224-225
02/PH Desc Text/Clark G.T/1859/Archaeol Cambrensis/Vol.5 3rdseries;
01/MM Record Card/OS//1961/SO 00 NW 7/;
07/PM Desc Text//Brooksby H/1972/Archaeol in Wales/p.30;
08/MM Record Card/OS//1983/SO 00 NM 7/;
third series,No.18 p.97-114;
p.97-114;
04/PH Mention/Srange J/1779/Arcaheologia/Vol.1 P.294-307;
03/PH Desc Text/RISW/Clark G.T/1859/Archaeol Cambrensis/Vol.5 ;
05/////Invent III 1b/LM10
06/MM Photo/GGAT/Lewis W/1981//;
2000/RCAHMW/AN INVENTORY OF THE ANCIENT MONUMENTS IN GLAMORGAN/VOL 3/PART 1b/MEDIEVAL SECULAR MONUMENTS/THE LATER CASTLES FROM 1217 TO THE PRESENT/p208-228
01/Desc Text/Cadw/Full Management Report /26/02/2008/Copy in further information file.

Events :
E000256 : MORLAIS CASTLE, PARTIAL EXCAVATION (year : 19725)
E008363 : Beacons Leisure Park, Blaen-y-Garth, Merthyr Tydfil (year : 2015)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 93014 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/93014/details
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 831m

Compiled date :


April 24, 2025, 12:47 pm - HTML file produced from GGAT HER Charitable Trust Ltd. Heathfield House, Heathfield, Swansea SA1 Tel. 01792 655208; Fax 01792 474469 website: www.ggat.org.uk  email: her@ggat.org.uk Registered Charity no. 505609
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