Ladys Mount, Powis Castle Park

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Ladys Mound; Pola; Pole; Pool; Powis; Trallwng; Trallwm

In the community of Welshpool. In the historic county of Montgomeryshire (Modern authority of Powys, preserved county of Powys).

Mound 300m West of Powis Castle. A rather oval ditched motte, c.34-7m in diameter and 5.6m high, with a D-shaped bailey platform, c.23m by 23m, on the SW. A low bank around the summit of the motte that has been interpreted as the remains of a shell keep, could also be related to the summerhouse said to have stood here, 'associated with the girlhoods of the second Duke of Powy's four lovely daughters' A structure appears to be depicted on the summit of the motte on the OS map of 1891. Usually suggested as precussor to Powis castle but also as a seige work. Powys SMR record reads 'Well preserved motte with inner scarp and central platform. Bailey to south-west surviving as level platform. Very overgrown, c6m diameter. Waterlogging in ditch. The banks of the bailey are up to 1.2m high. On the top of the motte are slight outlines of a structure of circular shape. Between this and the banks at the summit of the motte is a slight causeway leading to a gap in the banks. There is no obvious pathway from here to the base of the motte although here the ditch is broken by a distinct causeway. The entrance appears to be along the northern bank of the bailey. Adjacent to this, on the inner side of the ditch, an abuttment is still visible extending from the base of the motte (Cadw 1997). The motte is c34m in diameter, surrounded by a ditch 5.7m wide, to the SW lies a D shaped ditched bailey c30m by 32m (Thomas D, 1998b)'

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SJ21220634

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 306954
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 122 '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.

• Books
  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p245 [listed]
    Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p48 [mention]
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p150
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing)
    Higham, R. and Barker, P., 1992, Timber Castles (Batsford) p202, 242
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p300 Vol2 p567
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p265-6
    RCAHMW, 1911, An Inventory of Ancient Monuments in Montgomeryshire (HMSO) p182 No930
• Journal Articles
  • Spurgeon, C.J., 1966, ‘The castles of Montgomeryshire’ Montgomeryshire Collections Vol58 p13, 51-4
    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
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such.)
  • Thomas, D., 1998, South Twyi/Irfon/Crychan/Glasfynydd Archaeological Assessment (CPAT report)