Plas Baglan

Plas Baglan stands on the lower slopes of Mynydd Dinas above the village of Baglan, just north of Port Talbot. It is a rare surviving example of a 12th-century stone castle built by a Welsh lord to defend the land between the hills and the sea. The castle once marked the shifting frontier between Welsh lords and Norman invaders whose strongholds lay at Cynffig and Penybont. The castle’s importance is shown by its commanding position and the few surviving records of its early years. Morgan Gam, one of the Lords of Afan, held the site in the early 13th century. Archaeologists believe the fortress was raised soon after Lord Rhys destroyed the Norman castle at Aberavon in 1153, giving the Welsh a foothold on this stretch of coast. Today the site is a quiet wooded hillside with grassy banks marking the old walls. A public footpath passes close by, offering views across the valley towards Port Talbot. Visitors can trace the outline of the great hall and tower that once stood on the highest ground. The castle is privately owned but remains a registered ancient monument, a reminder of the power once wielded by the Lords of Afan.