Penlle'r Castell settlement, Betws Mountain - geograph

Penlle'r Castell is an historic ruin on the summit of

Mynydd y Gwair Mynydd y Gwair (Penlle’r Castell) ( en, The Hay Mountain) is a mountain in Swansea, Wales. Mynydd y Gwair is 373m/1224 ft hig Proposed Wind Farm Development On 2 September 2008 Npower renewables submitted a planning application for the ...

in the far north of the City and County of

Swansea Swansea (; cy, Abertawe ) is a coastal city and the second-largest city of Wales. It forms a principal area, officially known as the City and County of Swansea ( cy, links=no, Dinas a Sir Abertawe). The city is the twenty-fifth largest in ...

. The Penlle'r Castell site was probably a late 13th-century stronghold garrisoned by one of the

Marcher Lord A Marcher lord () was a noble appointed by the king of England to guard the border (known as the Welsh Marches) between England and Wales. A Marcher lord was the English equivalent of a margrave (in the Holy Roman Empire) or a marquis (in F ...

s. Penlle'r Castell is located 1213 feet above sea level. The meaning of the name in

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

is "summit of the place of the castle".

History

It has been suggested that the castle may have been established by

William de Braose, 2nd Baron Braose William de Braose (–1326) was the second Baron Braose, as well as Lord of Gower and Lord of Bramber. He was held as a hostage after being captured in 1264 during the Second Barons' War and records of some of his childhood expenses survive f ...

in the years immediately preceding 1252. However, there is no firm evidence as to the date of its construction, but it is believed to be the fortification referred to as the "New Castle of Gower" which was attacked and destroyed in 1252. There is only one other castle of that period in the northern uplands of Gower, Cae Castell, and its location and form preclude it being the "new castle" in question. Penlle'r Castell is in an ideal position for monitoring the actions of the lords of Is Cennan, resident on the north side of the

River Amman The River Amman () is a river of south Wales, which joins the River Loughor at Pantyffynnon. The source of the Amman is on the Black Mountain. The river name is said to derived from the Welsh word ' "pig, piglet", reflecting the way in which ...

, and preventing their encroachment into northern Gower via this important ridge route. It would have been a purely military fortification, a blockhouse from which a troop of mounted men could harry raiding parties and send warnings to Swansea of any military incursions.

The site

Now visible at this site are a series of impressive earthworks with deep ditches and some fragments of the stone buildings that must have topped them. It may have had two stone towers, probably made of dry stone walls because there are no signs of any mortar having been used. It may not have been permanently occupied.

References

Sources

Castleswales.com:Penller'r CastleGeograph: Plaque on Penlle'r CastellGathering The Jewels - Aerial photography of Penlle'r Castell
{{coord, 51.7691, -3.9356, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title Castles in Swansea Scheduled monuments in Wales