Buddugre Castle

Buddugre Castle (sometimes referred to as Tomen Bedd-Ugre, Castell Cwm Aran, Tomen Bedd Turc and Bedd-y-gre) was a motte and bailey defensive fortification overlooking the River Ithon, located in the community of Llanddewi Ystradenny, in Radnorshire (modern-day Powys), Wales.[1] It is believed to have been built as a defensive measure in the medieval period, during the 12th century,[2] as a timber castle.

History

Owain, King of Gwynedd is credited with building the castle in Budugre in 1149 as a defense measure for the vale of Clwyd. This brought Owain close to conflict with Madog ap Maredudd, the ruler of Powys who was opposed to any encroachment of his powers.[2][3] It is also said that it could have been built by Cadwallon, set high on top of a hill instead of in a valley akin to Norman castles of this period.[4]

Features

The castle structures on the mound located at the southern extremity of a ridge that faces south. The slopes of the ridge are towards west and south and on its east towards the Ithon Valley[4] but are long gone, but the land still clearly bears the marks of a ditched motte. The motte has a diameter of 34 metres (112 ft) and raises to a height of 6 metres (20 ft), with an oval embankment and ditched bailey; the ditch measuring 1 metre (3 ft 3 in). The ditched bailey measures 38 by 56 metres (125 ft × 184 ft). There are indications of a rectangular range surrounding the motte which measures 26 by 10 metres (85 ft × 33 ft) in an eastern direction. The top of the mound is flat, over which it is conjectured that a structure made either of timber or stone had existed as a defensive measure. Also seen close to the mound are "crop marks" which could have been a court, the llys.[1][3] Y The ditch that surrounds the motte has two 2 causeways over it running from the south and south-west. There is entry to the bailey from the south. A hut platform inside the bailey facing the south-west causeway over the ditch is made of earth and measures about 12 by 5 metres (39 ft × 16 ft).[4]

References
  1. "Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales". Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  2. Evans 1974, p. 180.
  3. "Looking for history under the branches: Issue no 34". British Archaeology Journal. May 1998. Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  4. "Tomen Bedd Urge, Llanddewi Ystradenny". Gatehouse Gazetteer. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
Bibliography

52.3175°N 3.3208°W / 52.3175; -3.3208

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