Erw'r Castell Mound, Caerwys

In the community of Caerwys. In the historic county of Flintshire (Modern authority of Flintshire, preserved county of Clwyd).

CARN record of a mound 30m diameter, approx 2.5m high, probably natural on steeply sloped hillside. Site just east of Caerwys church. Caerwys was a town of importance in medieval times and has the road layout of a planned Norman town. It should have a high status site. Although this mound is recorded as either natural or a ?round barrow its location is correct for a castle. Lewis writes "In a field near the village, called Erw'r Castell, was anciently a fortress, the history of which is unknown, and of which there are no remains." This may refer to this site or to a fieldname recorded at SJ128734, an equally possibly castle site just north of the town. It seems to me highly probably that Caerwys had a Norman timber castle but how long lived and at what precise site are unclear.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SJ132729

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 County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 102518; 102723 '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.

• Books
  • Davies, E., 1949, Prehistoric and Roman Remains of Flint (Cardiff)
    Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47806#s16