Tomen Castell

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Tomen Castell , also known as Tomen-y-Castell , is a castle in Conwy , Wales . The castle site, protected as a Scheduled Monument , is west of the village of Dolwyddelan in the Snowdonia National Park .

history

The small castle was probably built in the second half of the 12th century by the princes of Gwynedd , presumably Iorwerth Drwyndwn , the eldest son of Owain Gwynedd . Together with Castell Deudraeth , Carn Fadrund , Dinas Emrys and Castell Pen-y-garn, it is one of the fortifications that Owain Gwynedd's sons erected as symbols of their rule after their father's empire fell into several domains after his father's death in 1170. Tomen Castell controlled the road from Conwy to Ardudwy , an important link in southern Snowdonia . In addition, it probably served to protect the summer pastures in the valley of the Lledr , which belonged to the princes of Gwynedd. Probably around 1173 in the castle Llywelyn ab Iorwerth , the eldest son of Iorwerth Drwyndwn was born. In the wars of succession between the sons of Owain Gwynedd, Iorwerth Drwyndwn was killed around 1174, after which the castle is no longer mentioned. After Llywelyn from Iorwerth had become the sole ruler of Gwynedd at the beginning of the 13th century, he built Dolwyddelan Castle on a ridge northwest of the castle site . In 1962 and 1963 the castle site was excavated.

investment

The castle consisted of a rectangular tower, about 8.8 by 9.5 m, built of quarry stone, which rose on a small rocky hill on the edge of the valley of the Lledr. Only the remains of the up to 3 m thick foundation walls of the tower have been preserved. On the western side, the castle hill was additionally protected by a moat. Today the castle site is overgrown with Scots pines and bushes and is not open to the public.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Adrian Pettifer: Welsh Castles: A Guide by Counties . Boydell & Brewer, Woodbridge 2000. ISBN 978-0-85115-778-8 , p. 35

Coordinates: 53 ° 3 '5.2 "  N , 3 ° 54' 13.7"  W.