Description

The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period. A motte and bailey castle comprises a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil or stone (the motte) surrounded by, or adjacent to, one or more embanked enclosures (the bailey). Both may be surrounded by wet or dry ditches and could be further strengthened with palisades, revetments, and/or a tower on top of the motte. The Forest Wood site lies at the foot of a north-west facing slope at a river confluence. It consists of a motte, measuring c.29m in diameter at the base, which stands c.4m high on the uphill (south-eastern) side and c.7m high on the downhill side, and is surrounded by a ditch. To its south lies a bailey measuring c.30m by c.15m, defined on its east and west sides by natural gullies and on the south by an artificial scarp.

The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval defensive organisation. The well-preserved monument forms an important element within the wider medieval context and the structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information relating to chronology, building techniques and functional detail.

The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.

Source: Cadw