CPAT Regional Historic Environment Record
The following information is from the on-line database 'Archwilio'.
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Castell Dinas Bran, hillfort

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 101173
Trust : Clwyd Powys
Community : Llangollen
Unitary authority : Denbighshire
NGR : SJ2232043026
Site Type (preferred type first) : IRON AGE UNIVALLATE HILLFORT / BRONZE AGE UNIVALLATE HILLFORT
Status : scheduled monument

Summary :
Univallate hillfort occupying the summit of a prominent steep-sided hill. The defences comprise a steep scarp up to 8m high with intermittent remains of banks and ditch. Possible inturned entrance to south-west and hut sites in interior.


Description :
Univallate hillfort occupying the summit of a prominent steep-sided hill. The defences comprise a steep scarp up to 8m high with intermittent remains of banks and ditch. Possible inturned entrance to south-west and hut sites in interior. Scheduled (Cadw, 2000).

The earliest evidence of activity is represented by two late Bronze Age socketed axes (PRN:
101176) found within several hundred metres of the summit of the hill and possibly to be associated with early woodland clearance or defence of the hilltop. The summit of the hill is crowned by the single bank and ditch of a hillfort of later Bronze Age to Iron Age date, covering an area of over 2.4 hectares, probably with a single entrance on the south-west, which from its size and setting is likely to represent an important local tribal centre in the later prehistoric period (Jones, 2020).



Sources :
Burnham, H., 1995 , A Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales: Clwyd and Powys
Cadw , 1972 , Scheduling map - DE021(DEN)
Cadw , 1988 , Cadw Field Monument Wardens Report - De021(DEN)
Cadw , 1991 , Cadw Field Monument Wardens Report - De021(DEN)
Cadw , 1993 , Cadw Field Monument Wardens Report - De021(DEN)
Cadw , 2000 , Cadw Field Monument Wardens Report - De021(DEN)
Clwyd Archaeology Service , Photograph of Castell Dinas Bran hillfort
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 1983 , Site visit record - PRN101173
Davies, E., 1929 , The Prehistoric and Roman remains of Denbighshire ( © Davies, E)
Fenton, R , 1917 , Tours in Wales 1902-13
Hewitt, R S , 1977 , A history of Castell Dinas Bran
Jones, N. W , 2020 , Castell Dinas Brân, Llangollen, Denbighshire: Condition Survey. ( © Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT))
Kemp, W J , 1935 , Dinas Bran castle and hillfort , Archaeologia Cambrensis : 90 : 323-6
Longueville-Jones, H , 1855 , List of early British remains in Wales , Archaeologia Cambrensis : 1 : 263
Ordnance Survey , 1975 , OS record card SJ 24 SW 7
Roseveare, M.J. , 2017 , Castell Dinas Bran, Llangollen, Denbighshire Geophysical Survey Report ( © TigerGeo)
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales , 1914 , Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire - IV County of Denbigh

Events :
140340 : Llangollen, Castell Dinas Bran, condition survey, 2020 (year : 2020)
152941 : Llangollen, Castell Dinas Bran, geophysical survey, 2017 (year : 2017)

Related records
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 101172
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 166903
CPAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 166904

Compiled date : 31-12-1980


Images :



Archaeological data, from the Historic Environment Record, supplied by The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust in partnership with Local Authorities, Cadw and the partners of ENDEX © CPAT, 2025 (and in part © Crown, 2025). It is intended to be used for private research only and is not for use as part of commercial projects. If you wish to use this information for publication in printed or multimedia form or to compile resources for commercial use, prior permission must be obtained in writing. Use of this information is subject to the terms and conditions of access to HER data published on CPAT's website. Please contact the HER if you have any further questions regarding this information. Please quote the Primary Reference Numbers (PRNs) in any correspondence.

April 2, 2025, 9:12 pm - File produced for Archwilio from CPAT's Regional HER.
Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, The Offices, Coed y Dinas, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8RP
tel (01938) 553670, email her@cpat.org.uk, website www.cpat.org.uk

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