id: sig-20260722-report-gm037
site_id: gb-st-bride-s-major-ogmore
attribute: designation_report
value: 'Reference Number

  GM037

  Name

  Ogmore Castle

  Date of Designation

  Status

  Designated

  Unitary Authority

  Vale of Glamorgan

  Community

  St. Bride''s Major

  Easting

  288186

  Northing

  176960

  Broad Class

  Defence

  Site Type

  Castle

  Period

  Medieval

  The monument consists of the remains of a castle, dating to the medieval period. It is situated
  on the east bank of the tidal River Ewenni half a kilometre above its junction with the
  Afan Ogwr at a strategic fording point now marked by ancient stepping stones.

  The castle was established by William de Londres probably before 1107 as a ringwork and
  bailey. A rectangular stone keep was built early in the 12th century facing the bailey;
  it measures c.14m x 10m above a battered base with walls 1.8m wide; the west wall survives
  to a height of 12.5m, the other walls standing to basement level. A second freestanding
  stone building was erected on the east side of the inner ward towards the end of the 12th
  century, only the basement remains measuring c. 9.5 x 7.5m with walls 1.1m thick. The entrance
  is approached along a barrel vaulted passage via three stone steps and a ramp. The walls
  may have supported a timber superstructure with the building functioning as domestic quarters
  or as an exchequer.

  Early in the 13th century the ringwork was levelled and the surrounding ditch re-cut through
  the bedrock which allowed the river to enter. The stone obtained was used in the construction
  of a faceted curtain wall, entered by a simple and poorly defended gate passage on the west
  side adjacent to the keep. Against the north wall a hall measuring 21m x c.7m; only the
  lower walls of this survive, at this time the keep was also heightened by adding a second
  floor. In the outer bailey excavation evidence has shown a small masonry building existed
  at this period before being demolished under a later lime kiln, in turn underlying the extent
  standing walls of a later medieval courthouse, or possibly chapel, measuring c. 14m x 6.5m.
  The remains of another building from this last period, of a similar size but unknown function
  are situated on the south east side of the inner ward.

  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 and of particular significance in preserving its primary form to an exceptional
  degree. 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. The stepping stones are scheduled separately.'
source_url: http://cadwpublic-api.azurewebsites.net/reports/sam/FullReport?lang=en&id=2234
source_title: Scheduled Monument Full Report — Ogmore 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.