Maes Celyn Motte

Maes Celyn Motte stands on a low grassy mound in Crickhowell, Powys. It is one of many earthen mounds called motte castles built across Britain between the late 11th and mid-12th centuries. These mounds were usually surrounded by a ditch and topped with a wooden tower. The Normans introduced this style of fortification from France, and the Welsh soon adopted it. Cadw, the historic environment service of Wales, recognises Maes Celyn and lists it as a scheduled monument. The site is notable for its simplicity. Unlike later stone castles, Maes Celyn has no stone walls or curtain walls. It relies on the height of the mound and the surrounding ditch for defence. The mound itself is made of earth and stone, a common feature of motte castles in the Welsh Marches. The largest concentration of such mounds in Britain is found in the border region that includes Powys. Visitors reach the mound by a short path from nearby lanes. The top offers wide views over the surrounding countryside. The ditch that once defended the site is still visible around the base. The site is quiet and open, with no modern structures nearby. It is a place where the landscape of medieval warfare can still be imagined.