Mold; The Bailey Hill

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Montalt; Mohaut; Monhalt; Mouhaut; Montalto; Gwyddgrug; Guiddgrug; Yr Wyddgrug; Wydrug; Wyrebruch

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

Fine motte and bailey.Possible had shell keep. Mentioned often between 1167 and 1244. However in Masonry Castle Hogg and King write C13 references to Gwyddgrug (Wydrug; Wyrebruch) refer to Nantcribba SJ237014. An earthwork castle, set upon and formed from a natural hillock. On the N is a motte, c.57-62m in diameter and 10-14m high with a c.20m diameter summit upon which traces of masonry have been noted. To the S are two rectilinear enclosures, defined by c.10m scarps, c.64m N-S by 52m and c.32m NNE-SSW by 30m, respectively. A counterscarp survives only on the NW. Used as a recreation garden since 1792, site altered by construction of a bowling green, tennis courts and a Gorsedd circle.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SJ23546438

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 307119; 307163
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 100078 '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/mold.html
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_wales/117/moldcastle.htm
• Books
  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p238 [listed]
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p76
    Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p76
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p154, Vol2 p563
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p365
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Neaverson, E., 1947, Mediaeval Castles in North Wales: A study of Sites, Water Supply, and Building Stones (London) p18
    Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p260
    RCAHMW, 1912, An inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Flintshire (HMSO) p63
    Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol3 (London) p417
    Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47869#s13
• Journal Articles
  • 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
    1921, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol76 p352-3
    Maxwell, 1843, Trans. Cymmrodorion Vol2 pt4 p375-9
• 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] p200
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/glameng.html#flint6]