Gro Tump Motte

Tomen Gro Tump stands near Newtown in Powys, a medieval motte-and-bailey castle built between 1000 and 1153. The site consists of a large earthen mound surrounded by a ditch and an outer bank. It sits on farmland just off the A489, close to the village of Llanllwchaiarn. The motte rises about six metres above the surrounding ground level. A smaller mound lies nearby, linked by a low earthwork.

Cadw recognises Tomen Gro Tump as one of the best-preserved examples of its kind in Britain. It is listed as a Scheduled Monument with reference MG059. The site forms part of the largest concentration of such mottes in the borderlands of England and Wales. These earthworks were built by Norman lords to control key routes and river crossings.

Visitors find a simple grassy mound with clear earthworks marking the bailey. The main motte has a flat top, once topped by a wooden tower. The ditch and bank remain visible around the edges. The surrounding fields stretch away to distant hills, giving a quiet rural setting. The site is easy to reach and offers a clear view of the countryside.