Castell Blaenllynfi

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Blaen Llyfni; Blaen Lleveny; Blaenllyfni; Blaenllynvi

In the community of Llanfihangel Cwmdu with Bwlch and Cathedine. In the historic county of Brecknockshire (Modern authority of Powys, preserved county of Powys).

Stone-built quadrillateral castle, c.70m by 47m, defined by remains of walls, butresses and towers, within a broad moat, c.120m by 100m overall. To the NW of this is an embanked pool (now dry), 100m by 24m, with which the mound at SO14512300 is associated. The site was excavated by its then owner from 1973. Centre of the Fitz Herbert Barony of 1208, probably constructed in the years 1208 to 1215, after which it fell into the hands of the Braose family. It was returned to the fitz Herberts in 1217/8 and was sacked by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth and Richard Marshall in the October of 1233. Rebuilt soon afterwards it was apparently taken by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd late in 1262. It was retaken by September 1273 when Reginald fitz Peter fitz Herbert was rebuked for his castle taking activities in Brecknockshire. The castle was seized by the Crown after the abortive uprisings of 1321-2 and given to the Dispensers until their overthrow late in 1326. The castle by this time was nearly ruinous and an inquisition by jury of 23 January 1337 held at the castle found numerous defects which suggests that the castle had never recovered from the attentions of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, even if the archaeological evidence does suggest that the castle defences were improved at this time.
This site is alternatively spelt Blaenllynfi meaning source of Llynfi (it is the site of the source of the Avon Llynfi) or Blaenllyfni meaning something like source of smoothness. The second spelling seems incorrect but is much used and appears to be a old oft repeated typographical error.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO14492289

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 306016
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 651 '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/blaenll.html
    http://www.castles99.ukprint.com/Essays/blaen.html
• Books
  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p231 [listed]
    Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p18-19
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p11
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p48
    Remfry, Paul, 1998. Castles of Breconshire (Logaston Press) p149-53 [plan]
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p16
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p326
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    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 p504-5 [Reprint of 1876 Arch. Camb. article]
    Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47811#s13
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 p350
• Journal Articles
  • Silvester. R J., Courtney, P. and Rees, S.E., 2004 [published in 2006], 'Castell Blaenllynfi, Brecknock: a Marcher castle and its landscape' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol153 p75-103
    Silvester. R J., 1990, ‘Castell Blen Llynfi. Cathedine’. Archaeology in Wales 30. 63
    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 p74
    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
    Clark, G.T., 1876, 'Tretower, Blaen Llyfni and Crickhowel Castles' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol31 p284
• 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] p98-9
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/hertseng.html#breck3]
    Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1906, Leland's Itinerary in Wales (Bell and Sons; London) p107 http://www.archive.org/details/itineraryinwales00lelauoft