Alisby Castle, Crickhowell

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Crucywel; Crug Hywel

In the community of Crickhowell. In the historic county of Brecknockshire (Modern authority of Powys, preserved county of Powys).

Originally a simple motte and bailey built by the De Turbervilles, Crickhowell was remodelled in stone in 1272 by Sir Grimbald Pauncefote. He added a simple shell keep, little of which can be seen today. Still quite visible, however, are the twin-towered gatehouse and a double tower in the eastern end. As with so many Norman castles, Crickhowell suffered at the hands of Owain Glyndwr, and it seems that the castle was never rebuilt. A shell keep was formerly noted upon an oval motte, c.60m by 46m and c.8.0m high, originally ditched, which has remains of a twin-towered gatehouse opening onto a scarped forecourt, c.70m by 16m, with remains of two conjoined towers to the E, set into a bailey, c.90m by 64m, now largely obscured.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law. This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO21751825

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's National Monument Record (Coflein) number is 92110
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 72145; 35918 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Web site links
  • http://www.castlewales.com/crickhwl.html
    http://www.ecastles.co.uk/crickhow.html
• Books
  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p53-4
    Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p24-5 [plan]
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p13
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p72
    Remfry, Paul, 1998. Castles of Breconshire (Logaston Press) p162-5 [plan]
    Burnham, H., 1995, A Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales: Clwyd and Powys (Cadw, London)
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p18
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p345
    Oman, Charles W.C., 1926, Castles (1978 edn Beetham House: New York) p169
    Clark, G.T., 1884, Medieval Military Architecture in England  (Wyman and Sons) Vol2 p504 [Reprint of 1876 Arch. Camb. article]
    Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47816#s12
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 p354
• Journal Articles
  • Guy, Neil et al, 2008/9, 'Abergavenny Castle' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol22 p31-2 [slight]
    Redwood, P., 1997, 'Crickhowell Manor in 1587' Brycheiniog Vol29 p15-38
    Locock, M. and Marvell, A.G., 1995, 'Crickhowell, Dan-y-Parc' Archaeology in Wales Vol35 p33
    Locock. M., 1994. ‘Crickhowell Castle’. Archaeology in Wales Vol34 p61
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol112 p77-124
    King, D.J.C., 1961, ‘The castles of Breconshire’ Brycheiniog Vol7 p76-7
    Brown, R, Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol74 p249-280 [Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p90-121] http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0013-8266%28195904%2974%3A291%3C249%3AALOC1%3E2.0.CO%3B2-P http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0013-8266%28195904%2974%3A291%3C249%3AALOC1%3E2.0.CO%3B2-P
    Clark, George Thomas, 1876, 'Tretower, Blaen Llyfni and Crickhowel Castles' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol31 p283-4
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Rickard, John, 2002, The Castle Community. The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272-1422 (Boydell Press) [lists sources for 1272-1422] p103-4
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such.)
  • Locock. M., 1994. Archaeological Field Evaluation Alidby's Castle. Crickhowell. Powys. GGAT
    Silvester, R.J. and Dorling, P.J., 1993, Historic settlements in the Brecon Beacons National Park CPAT report
    Owen, W.G., 1992. Archaeological Evaluation of Play Area at Crickhowell Castle. Powys. CPAT report