Fortified Wales

Mottes

 

Mottes are simply are large man-made mound of earth on top of which a wooden castle/fort, would have been built by the Normans to keep themselves safe from hostile populatiuons as they advance throuhg England and Wales. Very often, if the site was well suited to defend, manage the surrounding area and provide comfortable living for the Lord or Baron, then the castle would remain and be rebuilt in stone (Cardiff Castle having previoulsy been given as an example). Many of the Mottes we see are within older fortified positions, highlighting perhaps how good a position is, or indeed utilising defences that had survived from earlier people. So, at Cardiff Castle the Motte is within the old Roman Fort there, and often you see them within Iron Age Hillforts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crannogs

 

Crannogs are a type of ancient loch-dwelling found mainly throughout Scotland and Ireland, while one has been discovered in Wales in Llangorse Lake and more recently in Monmouth where archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient wooden building that dates back 5,000 years. Steve Clarke, who two years ago uncovered the remains of a huge post-glacial lake at the Parc Glyndwr building site, said the timber remains found under the new Rockfield estate were once part of a crannog, an ancient fortified dwelling built into a lake. Most are circular structures that seem to have been built as individual homes to accommodate extended families. Other types of loch settlements are also found in Scandinavian countries and throughout Europe.

Crannogs are also known as artificial or modified natural islands and they were as much a product of their environment as the period in which they were constructed.

 

The Crannog on Llangorse Lake is the only Crannog to be found in Wales or England. It is situated in the waters of Llangorse Lake, which is the largest natural lake in south Wales. The Crannog was constructed in 916 ad, probably by the King of Brycheiniog.