id: sig-20260722-report-cm004
site_id: gb-llansteffan-llansteffan
attribute: designation_report
value: 'Reference Number

  CM004

  Name

  Castell Llansteffan

  Date of Designation

  Status

  Designated

  Unitary Authority

  Carmarthenshire

  Community

  Llansteffan

  Easting

  235112

  Northing

  210132

  Broad Class

  Defence

  Site Type

  Castle

  Period

  Medieval

  The monument consists of the remains of a castle, dating to the medieval period situated
  on a high promontory ridge overlooking the Tywi estuary, a location first defended in the
  6th century BC when a double bank and ditch were thrown across the neck to form a promontory
  fort. These earthworks were refurbished early in the 12th century when a ringwork and bailey
  of earth and timber was constructed within them. Built by the Norman Marmion family this
  castle passed to the de Camvilles and is first mentioned in 1146 when it was captured by
  the princes Cadell, Maredudd and Rhys of the royal house of Deheubarth. After returning
  to English hands it fell again to Rhys in 1189, and then again in 1215, when Llywelyn the
  Great invaded south-west Wales.  The first masonry structures dating to the late 12th and
  early 13th centuries are probably associated with these attacks. When south Wales was overrun
  by Llywelyn ab Iowerth prince of Gwynedd in 1257 following the English defeat at the battle
  of Coed Llathen the castle was captured once more. When the de Camvilles regained control
  a major remodelling to strengthen it took place. The death of the last male de Camville
  in 1338 led to a decline in importance and in 1377, it passed into the hands of the Crown.
  During the Glyndwr uprising in 1405-6 the tenant, Sir John Penres was ordered to strengthen
  the castle and it may have been captured and held by Glyndwr for a short period.  Later,
  Henry VII conferred it on his uncle Jasper Tewdwr who held it until his death in 1495. After
  this, the castles history becomes obscure; parts were in use as an agricultural building
  as recently as 1860, in 1959 it was taken into state care.

  The castle consists of an inner Upper Ward and outer Lower Ward. The curtain wall of the
  Upper Ward dates from the first phase of construction, it has a well-preserved square gatehouse
  on the north which was defended by portcullis and doors.  Some time after this curtain wall
  was heightened, and in places provided with a wider wall-walk supported on vaults.  The
  lower courses of a small round tower and remains of other buildings in the ward also date
  to this 13th-century work. The bailey was fortified in stone in the mid 13th century to
  form the Lower Ward. This was protected at its most vulnerable points by the building of
  two strong D-shaped towers on the north and west along with a complex bastion on the east,
  all inter-linked via a wall-walk. The North Tower was strengthened and being relatively
  spacious with fireplaces, separate stair and latrine turrets this is likely to have provided
  the private accommodation for the lord. A hall may have stood on the north-east, though
  nothing now remains. A little later the separation of the castle into two wards altered
  with the partial demolition of the inner ward wall. This was followed by the construction
  of the impressive double-towered gatehouse which dominates the northern side of the castle.
  Modelled on the East Gate at Caerphilly Castle the gate passage was defended by both front
  and rear portcullises , two sets of five murder holes in the vault above and conspicuous
  outer machicolations, a guardroom is situated either side.  Each of the upper floors forms
  a single great room, both spacious and well appointed despite the lower one having to accommodate
  the portcullis in its raised position.  The upper of the two rooms probably served as the
  new private apartment of the lord, the fine, large fireplace on the south wall having decorated
  ''sconces'', one of which retains its carved female head.  Later in Tudor times the gatehouse
  passage was blocked as is seen today  and a smaller gate inserted alongside as part of the
  conversion from a military structure into a comfortable residence.

  The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval
  defensive and domestic 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=1439
source_title: Scheduled Monument Full Report — Castell Llansteffan
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.