id: sig-20260722-report-mm186
site_id: gb-graig-meredydd
attribute: designation_report
value: 'Reference Number

  MM186

  Name

  Castell Meredydd

  Date of Designation

  14/02/1973

  Status

  Designated

  Unitary Authority

  Newport

  Community

  Graig

  Easting

  322542

  Northing

  188739

  Broad Class

  Defence

  Site Type

  Castle

  Period

  Medieval

  The monument consists of the remains of a castle, dating to the medieval period. The castle
  remains occupy a pair of rocky outcrops at the southern edge of a shelf on steeply rising
  ground above the Rhymney Valley, overlooked dramatically by Mynydd Machen to the north.
  On the eastern outcrop are the remains of a small circular keep around 10m in diameter,
  comprising two stretches of sandstone rubble stone walling up to 2.2m high with a rectangular
  latrine chute extending down the cliff face to the south. A few courses of walling survive
  of a short stretch of curtain wall filling the gap between the two outcrops. A second building,
  perhaps a rectangular tower or hall occupied the level summit of the western outcrop, measuring
  12m E/W by 7m. Running west from this is a collapsed wall which turns to the north as a
  spread stony bank to form the western side of a roughly square bailey or enclosure. The
  footings of an irregular rectangular building of uncertain date are located near the centre
  of this, beyond which the bank continues NE towards the garden of a modern cottage, much
  of the northern side of the enclosure being reduced to weak scarps. The eastern side of
  the enclosure is defined by a massive stony bank 2-3m high, which must cover a substantial
  fragment fo curtain wall. The castle is traditionally thought to have been built by Maeredydd
  Gethin, Prince of Gwynllwg before 1201, although the first direct documentary reference
  to it is in the mid 13th century, by which time it had fallen into Clare hands, apparently
  through some legal intrigue. it is possible that at least some of the masonry remains may
  date from after this period when Machen Forest was held as a hunting reserve by the Clares.

  The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval
  defensive and domestic architecture. With the possible exception of Castell Arnallt (MM086)
  it is the only documented Welsh masonry castle in Gwent of which physical remains can be
  identified, and of exceptional rarity of only a few in south Wales. 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=2410
source_title: Scheduled Monument Full Report — Castell Meredydd
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.