Castles / GB / Wales
Tretower 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 | Shell keep, a retained gatehouse, and Roger Picard's great four-storey round tower with structural evidence of a permanent wooden fighting gallery (hourd) give active defence; the integrated two-storey hall and chamber block with fireplaces and private accommodation for Roger Picard and his wife Matilda supply the residence of an identified lordly family. |
| 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 | Llanfihangel Cwmdu with Bwlch and Cathedine, Powys, 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 —
BR014· Scheduled Monument — SiteType: Castle · entry
Location
Approximate. © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Notes
Bands assessed against Cadw's full scheduled-monument report (BR014). fortified_residence upgraded from register-derived to assessed on the strength of the shell keep, gatehouse, curtain wall, great round tower with hourd, and the Picard family's hall and chamber block. Other bands omitted — the report describes fabric and defences but does not speak to popular usage, palatial conversion, or folly. One official report, so confidence is medium.
Sources
- Cof Cymru - National Historic Assets of Wales — Cadw, 2026-07-21
Cadw full scheduled-monument report (BR014); sole source, used for band assessment.
Signals
Raw per-source observations behind this record (2):
sig-20260721-cadw-br014,
sig-20260722-report-br014
Record file · dataset licensed CC BY 4.0 — see provenance.