c. 1093–95 (motte-and-bailey castle) c. 1242 (first masonry castle) 1273–74 (second masonry castle)
Battles/wars
Norman invasion of Wales (1067–1100s) Anglo-Welsh war (1256–67) Revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn (1294–95) Revolt of Owain Glyndŵr (1400–15)
Scheduled monument
Official name
Cefnllys Castle
Old Castle Mound
Cefnllys Medieval Settlement
Reference no.
RD008
RD077
RD150
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name
Church of St Michael
Designated
12 December 1952
Reference no.
9301
Cefnllys Castle (Welsh: Castell Cefn-llys, pronounced[ˈkastɛɬkɛvnɬɨːs]) was a medieval spur castle in Radnorshire (now part of Powys), Wales. Two successive masonry castles were built on a ridge above the River Ithon known as Castle Bank (Welsh: Craig y Castell, lit. 'castle rock') in the thirteenth century, replacing a wooden motte-and-bailey castle constructed by the Normans nearby. Controlling several communication routes into the highlands of Mid Wales, the castles were strategically important within the Welsh Marches during the High Middle Ages. As the seat of the fiercely contested lordship and cantref of Maelienydd, Cefnllys became a source of friction between Llywelyn ap Gruffudd and Roger Mortimer in the prelude to Edward I's conquest of Wales (1277–1283). Cefnllys was also the site of a borough and medieval town.
Castle Bank is often considered to be the site of an Iron Age hillfort, but there is no firm evidence to corroborate this.[1] It has also been speculated that the princely court of a native Welsh ruler was situated nearby. The first castle at Cefnllys, 1 mile (1.6 km) north of the ridge, was a motte-and-bailey thrown up during the early stages of the Norman invasion of Wales by the Anglo-Norman baron Ralph Mortimer, beginning a long association between the powerful Mortimer family and Cefnllys. Around 1242, after a century of prolonged conflict in the region, Ralph Mortimer II built a masonry castle on the north-east flank of Castle Bank, which quickly became the principal symbol of Mortimer hegemony in Wales.[2] The castle was captured and slighted in 1262 by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales and Gwynedd, during a war with Henry III of England, and Cefnllys featured prominently in the ensuing Treaty of Montgomery. The construction of a new castle on the south-east side of the hill by Roger Mortimer was a contributing factor to Llywelyn's refusal to swear fealty to Edward I in 1275, leading to war in 1277.
The castle may have been sacked during the revolts of Madog ap Llywelyn (1294–1295) and Owain Glyndŵr (1400–1415), but remained occupied until at least the mid-15th century, when it was described in a series of poems by the bard Lewys Glyn Cothi. Both castles on Castle Bank are now entirely ruinous and only traces remain; the sole surviving medieval structure at Cefnllys is St Michael's Church. The town was unsuccessful and disappeared altogether as a result of the Black Death and subsequent bubonic plague outbreaks, economic remoteness and changing frontier military conditions, although Cefnllys retained its borough status until the 19th century.
CefnllysCastle (Welsh: Castell Cefn-llys, pronounced [ˈkastɛɬ kɛvn ɬɨːs]) was a medieval spur castle in Radnorshire (now part of Powys), Wales. Two successive...
Cefnllys is an abandoned ghost village, formerly a medieval castle town and borough, near Llandrindod Wells in Radnorshire (now part of Powys), Wales....
Powis Castle (Welsh: Castell Powys) is a medieval castle, fortress and grand country house near Welshpool, in Powys, Wales. The seat of the Herbert family...
Bryn Glas Dolforwyn Castle Montgomery Castle Powis Castle Tretower Castle Aberedw Castle Castell Du Bronllys CastleCefnllysCastle Elan Valley Reservoirs...
a mountain. CefnllysCastle in Wales, is a series of 2 castles in Wales. Castle Hill castle Hillside castle Hilltop castle Ridge castle The Oxford Encyclopedia...
schools and one secondary school: Llandrindod Wells CP School – Cefnllys (Ysgol Cefnllys) is an English Medium Local Authority Primary school. Llandrindod...
Between the Wye and the Severn) and its administrative centre was at CefnllysCastle. According to historic manuscripts, the region between the Wye and...
Montgomery Castle (Welsh: Castell Trefaldwyn) is a stone castle looking over the town of Montgomery in Powys, Mid Wales. It is one of many Norman castles on the...
southwesterly course, flowing past Llandrindod Wells and the site of CefnllysCastle to a confluence with the Wye, 1 mile to the south of Newbridge-on-Wye...
that a documented history of the town began with the building of Rhayader Castle in 1177. Little remains today, with the exception of a dry moat that can...
Presteigne and Kington Castle and later Huntington Castle near Gladestry. Attractions in the town include a significant castle [1] mound of a Norman motte...
Llanidloes Ystradfellte Castles Aberysgir Castle Aberedw Castle Castell Dinas Castell Du CefnllysCastle Colwyn Castle Dolforwyn Castle Llangoed Hall Mediomanum...
the local name of Mynydd y Begwn. It may be that Crug Hywel refers to the castle mound in the town itself. The language of Crickhowell (and Llangynidr) was...
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Burfa Castle (also known as Burfa Hillfort, Burfa Bank Hillfort, or Burfa Camp) is an Iron Age hillfort near the tiny town of Old Radnor, Radnorshire in...
a fortification called Carreghofa Castle was built by the Earl of Shrewsbury around 1101. The place where the castle was probably built, at Tanat Camp...
the English Civil War. On 2 November 1644, Sir Thomas Myddleton of Chirk Castle was marching on Machynlleth with a force of the Parliamentarian army, when...
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ancient monument in the care of Knucklas Castle Community Land Project and listed by Cadw, it is the site of a castle believed to have been built by the Mortimers...
There are many examples of Georgian architecture within the town. Powis Castle is located to the north. Y Trallwng is the Welsh language name of the town...
Llanidloes Ystradfellte Castles Aberysgir Castle Aberedw Castle Castell Dinas Castell Du CefnllysCastle Colwyn Castle Dolforwyn Castle Llangoed Hall Mediomanum...
made a recovery in the area, until Ralph Mortimer II built a masonry castle at Cefnllys, which subsequently became seat of the cantref. Like the rest of Maelienydd...
and the River Usk made for a valuable defensive position for the Norman castle which overlooks the town, built by Bernard de Neufmarche in the late 11th...
Llanidloes Ystradfellte Castles Aberysgir Castle Aberedw Castle Castell Dinas Castell Du CefnllysCastle Colwyn Castle Dolforwyn Castle Llangoed Hall Mediomanum...
an outdoor education centre and a campsite within the village. Pencelli Castle is likely a late eleventh century fortification which fell into disuse in...