The Gatehouse website record for Stephens Castle, The College, Lampeter

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Llan Ystyffan; Castell Pont Steffan; Castell Pont Stuffan; Castle of Mabwynion; Llanbedr; Pont Stephen

In the community of Lampeter. In the historic county of Cardiganshire (Modern authority of Ceredigion, preserved county of Dyfed).

Built in the Norman expansion into Wales in the late 1080`s, Lampeter is on one of the main trade routes through to the North of Wales and so the Market town of Lampeter emerges over time. The Castle is razed in the 1130`s by a Welsh raid and is never rebuilt. appox 100 feet wide at the bottom and 20-25 feet at the top. The lost bailey has been suggestioned to orientate towards the local church, St.Peters. This is the usual site given for the castle of Mabwynion recorded as held by the Welsh 1154-8, Clare earl Hertford 1158-1165 and then by the Welsh again. However, see also Castell Mabwinion (SN485519)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SN57934827

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's National Monument Record (Coflein) number is 303859
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 779 '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.

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales, the four welsh archaeological trusts and other individuals and organisations. All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes. I do not receive any income from this site and I fund it myself.
The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.
Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.

It is an offence to disturb a Scheduled Ancient Monument without consent. It is a destruction of everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from any site without proper recording and reporting. Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation.

Please help me to make this as useful a resource as possible by contacting me if you see errors or if you can add information.
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