Penrhos Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Penros; Penros Farm; Coed y mount

In the community of Llantilio Crossenny. In the historic county of Monmouthshire (Modern authority of Monmouthshire, preserved county of Gwent).

Ditched motte, c.30m in diameter and 6.0m high, stands towards the S of an irregular oval enclosure, c.40m by 80m, defined by a ditch, with an internal bank on the NE and having a counterscarp except to the SE, in a commanding position about 3 miles north of Raglan Castle. Traces of bailey to the north. Administrative center of a sub-lordship of Abergavenny.Never re-built in stone. Documentary evidence suggests that it may have been built by John of Monmouth c. AD 1248 during a border dispute with William de Cantilupe. It appears to have a very short violent history, probably being dismantled in AD 1253

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO40941321

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 306505
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 01543g '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/penrhos.html
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_wales/161/penrhoscastle.htm
• Books
  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p243 [listed]
    Prior, Stuart, 2006, A Few Well-Positioned Castles: The Norman Art of War (Tempus) p110-164
    Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (University of Wales) [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?phillips_phd_2005] p293-5
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p146
    Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p74 [slight]
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p287
    Bradney, J.A., 1904-33, History of Monmouthshire Vol2 p85-6
• Journal Articles
  • Olding, F., 2000, 'Penrhos Castle' Gwent Local History Vol88 p3-16
    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
    1909, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol64 p138
    Wakeman, T.,1855, 'Pre-Historic Remains in Monmouthshire' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol10 p14-15
• 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] p316