Neath Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Castell-nedd; Neth

In the community of Neath. In the historic county of Glamorgan (Modern authority of Neath Port Talbot, preserved county of West Glamorgan).

This was a stronghold of the lords of Glamorgan. Originally C12 oval ringwork, A D-shaped enclosure, c.30m in diameter, rebuilt in stone, probably after the castle was destroyed by Llywelyn ap Iorwerth in 1231. The ruined curtain wall and stump of a tower from this period survive but major remains are twindrum towered gatehouse of C14 date constructed after a further attack on the castle.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SS75369780

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 94528
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 00624w '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/neath.html
    http://www.ecastles.co.uk/neath.html
• Books
  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p240 [listed]
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p100
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p109
    Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p57
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p166
    Davis, Paul R., 1983, Castles of Glamorgan (Alun Books) p14
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p367
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Hague, D.B., 1971, in Pugh, T.B. (ed), Glamorgan County History Vol3 The Middle Ages (Cardiff) p432
    Randall, Henry John, 1961, The Vale of Glamorgan, Studies in Landscape and History (Newport: R.H.Johns Ltd) p77
    Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p296-7
    Birch, 1902, History of Neath Abbey (Neath) p227-52
    Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47872#s15
    Homfray, Jeston, 1828, The Castles of the Lordship of Glamorgan (Cardiff) p25 and plate
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 p405
• Journal Articles
  • Thompson, M.W., 1986, 'Associated monasteries and castles in the Middle Ages: a tentative list' The Archaeological Journal Vol143 p315
    King, D.J.C. and Brooksby, H., 1980, 'Neath Castle' Programme of the 127th Annual Meting, CAA p30-3
    Phillips, C.T., 1977 '“Dig” at Neath Castle (1970-76)' Neath Antiquarian Society transactions p7-8
    Brooksby, H., 1973, 'Neath Castle' Morganwwg Vol17 p62-4
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Chateau Gaillard Vol3 p90-127
    1966, Medieval Archaeology Vol10 p194 [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?medarch]
    Johns, 1965, Archaeology in Wales Vol5 p28-30
    [Johns], 1964, Medieval Archaeology Vol8 p262 [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?medarch]
    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
    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
    Francis, 1846, 'Original Charters and Materials for a History of Neath' The Archaeological Journal Vol3 p274-7 http://www.archive.org/stream/archaeologicaljo03brit#page/274/mode/1up
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Giraldus Cambrensis, c.1183, Description of Wales [http://www.building-history.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Primary/Gerald.htm]
    Rickard, John, 2002, The Castle Community. The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272-1422 (Boydell Press) [lists sources for 1272-1422] p210-1