id: sig-20260722-report-mg044 site_id: gb-llangyniew-mathrafal attribute: designation_report value: 'Reference Number MG044 Name Mathrafal Castle Date of Designation Status Designated Unitary Authority Powys Community Llangyniew Easting 313159 Northing 310790 Broad Class Defence Site Type Castle Period Medieval The following provides a general description of the scheduled ancient monument. The monument comprises the remains of a motte and bailey castle, a military stronghold built during the medieval period. A motte and bailey castle comprises a large conical or pyramidal mound of soil or stone (the motte) surrounded by, or adjacent to, one or more embanked enclosures (the bailey). Both may be surrounded by wet or dry ditches and could be further strengthened with palisades, revetments, and/or a tower on top of the motte. Mathrafal consists of an impressive series of rectangular defences set around the motte, with further protection afforded by the River Banwy to the east . Excavations suggest these rectangular defences were the result of 13th century refashioning and enlargement of earlier curving defences. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval defensive organisation. The well-preserved monument forms an important element within the wider medieval context and the structure itself may be expected to contain archaeological information relating to chronology, building techniques and functional detail. 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=2622 source_title: Scheduled Monument Full Report — Mathrafal 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.