id: sig-20260722-report-gm046
site_id: gb-llwchwr-loughor
attribute: designation_report
value: 'Reference Number

  GM046

  Name

  Loughor Castle

  Date of Designation

  03/01/1934

  Status

  Designated

  Unitary Authority

  Swansea

  Community

  Llwchwr

  Easting

  256434

  Northing

  197980

  Broad Class

  Defence

  Site Type

  Castle

  Period

  Medieval

  The monument consists of the remains of a castle dating to the medieval period. Loughor
  castle is placed in a strategic position on the western edge of the lordship of Gower guarding
  the lowest crossing of the River Loughor. The Romans too found this a strategic spot and
  the castle was built in the south-east corner of the Roman auxiliary for of Leucarum. It
  was founded in the early 12th century by Henry de Villiers. At this stage an oval area on
  the highest part of the spur above the river was enclosed by a ditch, now gone, and the
  edge heightened by a bank. Thus, despite its motte-like appearance, the earliest castle
  was really a castle ringwork. Excavation has revealed that a rectangular kitchen occupied
  the east side of the interior. Of the other buildings, which would have been of timber,
  nothing is known.

  The castle''s history was a turbulent one, and there are four further stages of rebuilding.
  In the mid to late 12th century further timber buildings and possibly a stone tower, predecessor
  to the present one, were built, and in the late 12th to early 13th century two stone buildings
  were constructed in the middle. A stone curtain wall was built before 1215; its foundations
  were found during excavation. The slight lip around the edge of the mound marks its position.
  A small stone tower on the west side of the mound dates from the late 13th century or about
  1300, the last building phase at the castle, perhaps during the lordships of William de
  Braose II and III. The presence of a fireplace in the north wall, and garderobe in the south,
  both on the first floor, indicates that the tower was residential. Its thick walls stand
  to first floor level, and there was originally another floor above. The whole of the south-east
  corner, complete with spiral stair, lies on its side, having fallen in the 1940s. Adjoining
  the tower to the south was the entrance gateway. The castle was made redundant by Edward
  I''s pacification of Wales and fell into decline.

  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=142
source_title: Scheduled Monument Full Report — Loughor 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.