Castles / GB / Wales
Aberystwyth Castle
Which definitions does it satisfy?
This dataset does not record whether something “is a castle”. It records a verdict against each named definition, with the reasoning that produced it.
| Definition | Verdict | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Fortified residence | yes | Cadw report CD008 describes a concentric-walled castle with a twin-apsidal tower gateway carrying a pointed entrance, portcullis chase and crenellated parapet, round flanking towers to inner and outer wards, a mural tower and a dry moat — active defence built to be held, not merely a wall. A Royal Mint was later established "in the castle hall", evidencing the residential hall of the royal builder Edward I; a royal lord is still a lord under this band. |
| Enclosure fortification | unassessed | No source consulted so far speaks to this definition. Unassessed is not the same as no. |
| State fortification | unassessed | No source consulted so far speaks to this definition. Unassessed is not the same as no. |
| Palatial seat | unassessed | No source consulted so far speaks to this definition. Unassessed is not the same as no. |
| Revival and folly | unassessed | No source consulted so far speaks to this definition. Unassessed is not the same as no. |
| Popularly a castle | unassessed | No source consulted so far speaks to this definition. Unassessed is not the same as no. |
Facts
| Tradition | european medieval |
|---|---|
| Location | Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales, GB |
| Built | Medieval |
| Confidence | medium |
| First recorded | 2026-07-21 |
| Last updated | 2026-07-22 |
In the registers
Where this structure appears in official inventories. This is what turns an individual record into evidence about a count.
- Cof Cymru — National Historic Assets of Wales —
CD008· Scheduled Monument — SiteType: Castle · entry
Location
Approximate. © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Notes
Assessed 2026-07-22 against Cadw scheduled-monument full report CD008 (sig-20260722-report-cd008); fortified_residence upgraded from register-derived to assessed. Other bands OMITTED: the report does not speak to palatial, revival, enclosure or state character. popular_castle left unassessed — the report shows the remains now form a public park but cites no visitor operation, WHS status or comparable evidence of popular standing, and a name is not usage. Confidence medium: a single official report plus the register.
Sources
- Cof Cymru - National Historic Assets of Wales — Cadw, 2026-07-21
Register entry and full scheduled-monument report; the assessment source.
Signals
Raw per-source observations behind this record (2):
sig-20260721-cadw-cd008,
sig-20260722-report-cd008
Record file · dataset licensed CC BY 4.0 — see provenance.