Pencastell Llangeler

Pencastell Llangeler is a ditched motte on sloping high ground between two small watercourses which drain into the Afon Teifi about a mile to the north-west. The mound is covered by trees and surrounded by fields and hedges, but it is visible from the public road about 40 metres from the road.

The motte is about six metres high, and has a summit area about 24 metres across, which is large enough to house a perimeter wall and hall/tower complex. Around the perimeter is a low bank, likely to represent turf-covered footings. At the base it is 36 metres across, the ditch is probably about 10 metres across, but only about 1.5 metres deep; it is water filled on the lower (northern) side. Perhaps half of the ditch has a counterscarp bank on the outside, but this may not be medieval in origin. There is no evidence of a bailey, but to the north-east is St Mary’s church and well, dating to the medieval period, but rebuilt in the 19th century.

As is often the case with the earthwork castles, there is no known history associated with the motte. However, the scale end execution of the mound, combined with the location looking over the Teifi valley and the proximity to the (pre-existing) church are suggestive that it was founded by the Normans under Gilbert de Clare during their campaigns into Carmarthenshire during the 1140s, and was founded primarily as a military outpost, albeit on a larger scale than many. It may have been a burial mound that was reused, as excavation early in the 20th century found layers of charcoal, pot sherds and thin bones, although these have not been dated. It is unlikely to have remained in use for long, although use into the 13th century is feasible.

RCAHMW Coflein database entry