Middle Park Motte

Middle Park Motte is a modest round ditched motte sat at the edge of a subcircular ditch containing a raised platform with a slight perimeter bank within. It sits on top of a lengthy spur of higher land within the Middle Park of Powis Castle, and is not readily accessible to the public save by prior arrangement. The motte is just under two metres high, and measures 23 metres across the base; the bailey is roughly 48 metres in diameter. There is no known history associated with this site, and the remains are to say the least somewhat unimpressive. However it is clear that at the very least it is intended to follow the concept of a motte and bailey castle. It lies just over 1100 metres south-west of the Ladies Mount, another motte and bailey within the grounds of Powis Castle, and it is perhaps another 200 meres to the main castle. About 1700 metres north-east of the Ladies Mount is Domen Castell, probably the original castle of Welshpool.

It is hard to explain the location or function of Middle Park motte. It is unlikely to represent a siegework related to the various aggressive moves made against the lords of Powis Castle by the princes of Gwynedd – or other members of the Powys dynasty; it is too far away from either the masonry castle or its predecessor to the north-east. The mound, ditch and bank are comparatively weak defensively, although the earthworks may have become denuded over time, and it is built part way up the south-east facing slopes of the spur, overlooked by higher ground. It is possible that centuries ago the small streams running down the slopes to either side were more significant, and the site would permit good views towards the masonry castle, with lesser views over the Severn valley. My suspicion is that it was a timber castle used as a hunting lodge associated with Domen Castell, providing the lords of Powys with a base to entertain guests and hunt a couple of miles away from the bustle of the castle and town. This would be an unusually “English” feature for the native Welsh, but seems the most logical explanation.

RCAHMW Coflein database entry