id: sig-20260722-report-br111
site_id: gb-crickhowell-crickhowell
attribute: designation_report
value: 'Reference Number

  BR111

  Name

  Crickhowell Castle

  Date of Designation

  Status

  Designated

  Unitary Authority

  Powys

  Community

  Crickhowell

  Easting

  321748

  Northing

  218240

  Broad Class

  Defence

  Site Type

  Castle

  Period

  Medieval

  The monument consists of the remains of a castle, dating to the medieval period. The castle,
  also known as Alisby''s castle occupies a vantage point with commanding views along the
  Usk valley. It originated as a Motte, measuring 60m in diameter and 8m high, and Bailey
  with timber buildings, probably built by the Turberville family in the 12th century. In
  1272 it was rebuilt in stone by Sir Grimbald Pauncefote who married a Turberville heiress.
  On the summit of the motte a stone shell keep was built, traces of which can still be seen,
  while the base of the motte was enclosed by a defensive wall with two D-shaped towers on
  the southern side. The bailey, measuring around 90m by 65m, was enclosed by a curtain wall.
  A print by Samuel and Nathaniel Buck from 1741 shows the curtain wall with at least 3 round
  towers along the bailey wall. On the SE side of the Bailey a conjoined double tower was
  built, comprising one round and one square tower, with crenellations surmounting the top
  of the square tower. The remains of a further tower were identified during the excavation
  of a service trench on the W side of the bailey. During the 14th century the castle was
  refortified by Sir John Pauncefote, great-grandson of Sir Grimbald, following royal command,
  but it was nonetheless unable to withstand attack from Owain Glyndwr''s forces who left
  it in ruins. The castle was never repaired and was uninhabited by the mid-16th century.
  The remains of the motte and D-shaped towers, together with the substantial remains of the
  conjoined towers, still stand on the site, while the bailey area is now occupied by a playground.

  The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval
  defensive practices. The monument is well-preserved and an important relic of the medieval
  landscape. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of
  the presence of both structural evidence and intact associated deposits.

  The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related
  evidence may be expected to survive.'
source_url: http://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/sam/FullReport?lang=en&id=1754
source_title: Scheduled Monument Full Report — Crickhowell Castle
publisher: Cadw
observed_date: '2026-07-22'
collected_by: scripts/build_assessment_batch.py
confidence: high
notes: The designation text. Assess the six bands against THIS evidence only; omit any band
  it does not speak to.