The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Wern-y-cwrt

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 01874g
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Llanarth
Unitary authority : Monmouthshire
NGR : SO39390880
Site Type (preferred type first) : Medieval Motte
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
Phillips notes that the motte at Bryngwyn (with an area of 551.06m²), situated on an overgrown mound, include the possible inclusion of a hedgerow or possibly remains of an embanked ditch (0.23m in height) around the motte (surface area of 89.597m²) and a possible bailey to the north of the site heading west and southwestwards towards the modern house occupying the site. Modern construction has destroyed the site to the south-east. Phillips interprets the site as a motte and bailey within the system of land tenure or held for part of a knight’s fee (a defended settlement rather than an offensive site) and most likely used to control settlement following the Norman Conquest (Phillips 2004).

Description :
Phillips notes that the motte at Bryngwyn (with an area of 551.06m²), situated on an overgrown mound, include the possible inclusion of a hedgerow or possibly remains of an embanked ditch (0.23m in height) around the motte (surface area of 89.597m²) and a possible bailey to the north of the site heading west and southwestwards towards the modern house occupying the site.

Modern construction has destroyed the site to the south-east. Phillips interprets the site as a motte and bailey within the system of land tenure or held for part of a knight's fee (a defended settlement rather than an offensive site) and most likely used to control settlement following the Norman Conquest (Phillips 2004).

The grounds of the nearby house have been radically altered since at least the beginning of the 19th century and whatever, defensive or occupation features that may have been part of a possible bailey have been either flattened or buried to produce the current landscaped gardens. The 1st series OS map of 1831 shows the tumulus in a space that is unshaded and may be truncated along the E and NE edge. This attention to detail is quite important on an otherwise stylised map (Phillips 2020).

Sources :
, Ordnance Survey First Series
Phillips, N. , 2004 , Thesis: Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050 - 1250
01/Desc Text/Cadw/ Full Management Report/2006/ Copy in further information file

Events :
E004063 : Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050 - 1250 (year : 2004)
E007378 : Abergavenny - Raglan A40 Trunk Road (year : 1978)
E006566 : The Green, Wern y Cwrt, Bryngwyn, Usk (year : 2020)
E008773 : GGAT52: Monmouthshire Historic Settlements, Caldicot & Raglan (year : 1999)

Related records

Compiled date : 15-02-1988


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