Castell Moel

Castell Moel from Llansteffan Road

Castell Moel (also known as Greencastle, Green Castle, Humphreys Castle, or Castle Mole) is the remains of a 16th-century fortified manor house in the community of Llangain in Carmarthenshire, Wales, and also a medieval motte about 600 yards (550 m) to the south of the manor house.[1] The remains are approximately 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south-west Carmarthen and 0.8 miles (1.3 km) north-east of the village of Llangain. Three miles to the north-west is Carmarthen Castle, and five miles to the south-west is Llansteffan Castle.

In 1917 the then Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales and Monmouthshire (now RCAHMW) described the site as "showing a few vestiges of the foundation walls of what appears to be a 14th or early 15th century castle".[2]

The castle stands on a plateau overlooking the River Towy, and the overgrown remains are now thought to be of a late medieval L-plan hall house, once owned by the Rede family.[1] The main eastern block is a first floor hall and set in the re-entrant angle, is an adjoining high stair turret. The western block is a two-storey wing, with a porch and a cellar and the walls of the castle, once supported a crenellated parapet.[1] It is doubtful that the building was ever intended to be defended.[3]

The 1917 report also stated that the remains of a motte and bailey castle were easily traceable, and that it became known as the old castle. A much more recent (sometime after 1990) visit by the Dyfed Archaeological Trust could find no trace of the older castle.[4]

The Wales Coast Path (Carmarthen to Llansteffan section) passes through the associated Green Castle Woods, a nature reserve managed by the Woodland Trust.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Davis, Philip (19 April 2016). "Castell Moel Manor House, Llangain". Gatehouse. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  2. ↑ Parish of Llangain - Green Castle. V County of Carmarthen. An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Wales and Monmouthshire. London: RCHAWM. 1917. p. 149. Retrieved 2 May 2016 – via google books.
  3. ↑ "Castell Moel". Castles of Wales. 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  4. ↑ "Green Castle; Castell Moel". Historic Environment Record (HER). Dyfed Archaeological Trust (DAT). DAT PRN 2149. Retrieved 2 May 2016 – via archwilio (online database of the four Welsh Archaeological Trusts).
  5. ↑ "Wales Coast Path - The Carmarthenshire Bit!". Discovering Carmarthenshire. Retrieved 2 May 2016.

Coordinates: 51°49′33″N 4°19′48″W / 51.8259°N 4.3301°W / 51.8259; -4.3301

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