The Gatehouse website record for Rockfield Castle, Llangattock Vibon Avel

In the community of Llangattock Vibon Avel. In the historic county of Monmouthshire (Modern authority of Monmouthshire, preserved county of Gwent).

King (1983) identified a 'motte small and rounded; possible traces of small and weak bailey' at SO483142. Phillips did a survey of this area and found at Kings map reference some drainage works and a spoil heap. However he found, at SO48261412, a motte and 'small triangular bailey, interpreted as a horn work' and a 'larger bailey to the east complete with sections of rampart'. He was of the opinion that this was not the 'motte' identified by King. Quite what the full story is is unclear, what method was King using to identify mottes? when did he survey the site and what notes did he have? It seems unlikely to me that such an experienced and dynamic an observer and surveyor of castles as King would misidentify a spoil heap (although apparently the spoil heap does resemble a weak motte) and not see a motte and bailey reportedly 50m away.
'the site is atypical as the motte is not situated at the steep part of the slope; the bailey is. It may be that the motte already existed as an earlier mound which the Normans re-used. Alternatively, its position may have been dictated by the geology of the fault line to the north-east as a quarry source' (Phillips)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO48261412

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 03617g; 08427g '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.

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The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales, the four welsh archaeological trusts and other individuals and organisations. All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes. I do not receive any income from this site and I fund it myself.
The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

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