Domen Castell

Domen Castell is a medieval earthwork mound in the village of Llanfechain, Powys. It stands without the usual defensive wall called a bailey. Most such mounds in Wales were built between the late 11th and the second half of the 12th century. They were made of earth and stone with a ditch around them. The Normans brought this style of fortification from France and the Welsh adopted it. Cadw, the Welsh historic environment service, keeps the site on its list. Its reference number is MG005. The largest group of these mounds in Britain lies along the Welsh borderlands. This area once included parts of Shropshire, Cheshire, Herefordshire, Powys and Flintshire. Visitors find a simple grassy mound rising above the village. A ditch runs around the base, marking where the old defences once stood. The mound is quiet now, with no buildings on top. From the top there are views over the surrounding countryside. The site shows how early fortifications were built without heavy stone walls.