Mold Castle: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox historic site |
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{{Expand|date=May 2008}} |
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| name = Mold Castle<br/><small>Bailey Hill</small><br /> |
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'''Mold Castle''' was founded in the 12th Century and retained its earthwork and timber defences right into the 13th century.The castle was probably founded by Robert de Montalt in around 1140.It is mentioned in documents in the 1160's and later. Excavations have revealed buried stonework in the bailey, probably from the hall. It is located in a public park and the bailey now forms part of a bowling green. |
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| native_name = |
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{{Motte & Bailey Castles}} |
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| native_language = |
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| image = Bryn y Beili (Castell yr Wyddgrug) yr Wyddgrug - Bailey Hill - Mold Castle, yr Wyddgrug (Mold), Cymru 18.jpg |
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| caption = Aerial view of the site |
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| type = [[Motte-and-bailey castle]]<ref name="Cadw"/> |
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| location = [[Mold, Flintshire|Mold]], [[Flintshire]], [[Wales]]<ref name="Cadw"/> |
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| locmapin = Wales Flintshire |
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| map_caption = Location in [[Flintshire]] |
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| nearest_city = [[Wrexham]] |
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| map_relief = yes |
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| pushpin_label = Mold Castle |
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| coordinates = {{coord|53.17038|-3.14544|display=inline,title}} |
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| embedded = {{Infobox designation list |
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| embed = yes |
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| designation1 = Scheduled monument |
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| designation1_offname= The Bailey Hill, Mold<ref name="Cadw"/> |
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| designation1_number = FL014<ref name="Cadw">{{National Historic Assets of Wales|num= FL014|desc=The Bailey Hill, Mold|class= SM|uid= 3090|access-date=2022-06-23}}</ref> |
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[[File:Mold Castle (motte & bailey), Mold - 2321514 7855565b.jpg|thumb|The outer bailey of Mold Castle]] |
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'''Mold Castle''' ({{langx|cy|Castell yr Wyddgrug}}), also known as '''Bailey Hill''' in the town of [[Mold, Flintshire|Mold]], [[Flintshire]], north-east [[Wales]], is a [[motte-and-bailey castle]] erected around 1072, probably by the Norman [[Robert de Montalt]] under instructions from [[Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester]]. Little remains except the mound on which the motte was built. It stands close to the 15th-century parish church, [[St Mary's Church, Mold|St Mary's Church]] near the centre of the town.<ref name=Express/> |
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==History== |
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Mold Castle was built upon an existing [[Earthworks (engineering)|earthwork]]. A [[Motte-and-bailey|motte and bailey]] [[Fortification|fortress]] was erected c. 1072 - possibly by [[Robert de Montalt]], a descendant of [[Eustace De Monte Alto]], a Norman warrior in the service of [[Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester|Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester]]. This family originated in [[Monthault]], [[Ille-et-Vilaine]], in the [[Duchy of Brittany]], not then part of France, but it has been proposed that they took their name from 'mont haut', meaning 'high hill', and associated it with this earthwork.<ref>{{cite book|author=Nicholas, Thomas |title=Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WQ6wkDw8DnUC&pg=PA436 |year=2000|publisher=Genealogical Publishing |isbn=978-0-8063-1314-6|page=436}}</ref> |
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This name may have become corrupted, down the years, until it became 'Mold'. So Bailey Hill may have given the town its name. In 1146 it was captured by [[Owain Gwynedd]].<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|title=History of Bailey Hill, Mold, celebrated with a picnic |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/northeastwales/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8531000/8531378.stm |date=30 April 2010 |publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref> It switched hands on several occasions before a long period under Welsh control during the reign of [[Llywelyn ab Iorwerth]]. It remained a defensive structure up until the 13th century. During the [[English Civil War]], Mold was captured by the Parliamentarians, recovered by the Royalists and fell again to Cromwell's forces.<ref name=Express/> |
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==The site== |
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The site came into the possession of the Mostyn family and in 1790 they surrounded it with a stone wall, planted trees and converted it into a garden. In 1890 it was sold to Mold Council. They have created a memorial garden to honour the soldiers of Mold who fell in [[World War I]], and this incorporates the castle site. What is visible nowadays is a conical mound, which once supported the motte, enclosed in a rectangular bailey.<ref name=Express>{{cite web |url=http://www.britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=488 |title=Mold Castle |author=Ross, David |publisher=Britain Express |accessdate=7 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.castlewales.com/mold.html |title=Mold Castle |author=Pettifer, Adrian |year=2009 |work=Castles of Wales |accessdate=7 April 2016}}</ref> The site became a town park in 1920, with a [[bowls|bowling green]] in the [[inner bailey]] and tennis courts in the [[outer bailey]].<ref name=restored>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-60634692 |title=Mold's Bailey Hill restored after £1.8m project |publisher=BBC News |date=6 March 2022 }}</ref> |
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After the park fell into disrepair, it was restored over several years, including building ramps, creating a performance space in the inner bailey, and building an interpretation centre; the site is scheduled to reopen in April 2022.<ref name=restored/> In the course of the work, in 2020 excavations by the [[Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust]] revealed the remains of a large masonry wall on the edge of the inner bailey, which could have been part of the fortifications or an internal building<ref name=Leader>{{cite news|title=Medieval Discovery on Mold's Bailey Hill |url= https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18638769.medieval-discovery-molds-bailey-hill/ |date=9 August 2020 }}</ref> and suggested the original castle may have been timber.<ref name=restored/> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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* {{commons category-inline|Mold Castle}} |
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{{Flintshire|state=collapsed}} |
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[[Category:Castles in Flintshire]] |
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[[Category:Castle ruins in Wales]] |
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[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 12th century]] |
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[[Category:Motte-and-bailey castles]] |
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[[Category:Mold, Flintshire]] |
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Latest revision as of 06:37, 10 November 2024
| Mold Castle Bailey Hill | |
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_yr_Wyddgrug_-_Bailey_Hill_-_Mold_Castle,_yr_Wyddgrug_(Mold),_Cymru_18.jpg) Aerial view of the site | |
| Type | Motte-and-bailey castle[1] |
| Location | Mold, Flintshire, Wales[1] |
| Nearest city | Wrexham |
| Coordinates | 53°10′13″N 3°08′44″W / 53.17038°N 3.14544°W |
  Mold Castle Location in Flintshire | |
| Official name | The Bailey Hill, Mold[1] |
| Reference no. | FL014[1] |
,_Mold_-_2321514_7855565b.jpg)
Mold Castle (Welsh: Castell yr Wyddgrug), also known as Bailey Hill in the town of Mold, Flintshire, north-east Wales, is a motte-and-bailey castle erected around 1072, probably by the Norman Robert de Montalt under instructions from Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester. Little remains except the mound on which the motte was built. It stands close to the 15th-century parish church, St Mary's Church near the centre of the town.[2]
History
[edit]Mold Castle was built upon an existing earthwork. A motte and bailey fortress was erected c. 1072 - possibly by Robert de Montalt, a descendant of Eustace De Monte Alto, a Norman warrior in the service of Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester. This family originated in Monthault, Ille-et-Vilaine, in the Duchy of Brittany, not then part of France, but it has been proposed that they took their name from 'mont haut', meaning 'high hill', and associated it with this earthwork.[3]
This name may have become corrupted, down the years, until it became 'Mold'. So Bailey Hill may have given the town its name. In 1146 it was captured by Owain Gwynedd.[4] It switched hands on several occasions before a long period under Welsh control during the reign of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. It remained a defensive structure up until the 13th century. During the English Civil War, Mold was captured by the Parliamentarians, recovered by the Royalists and fell again to Cromwell's forces.[2]
The site
[edit]The site came into the possession of the Mostyn family and in 1790 they surrounded it with a stone wall, planted trees and converted it into a garden. In 1890 it was sold to Mold Council. They have created a memorial garden to honour the soldiers of Mold who fell in World War I, and this incorporates the castle site. What is visible nowadays is a conical mound, which once supported the motte, enclosed in a rectangular bailey.[2][5] The site became a town park in 1920, with a bowling green in the inner bailey and tennis courts in the outer bailey.[6]
After the park fell into disrepair, it was restored over several years, including building ramps, creating a performance space in the inner bailey, and building an interpretation centre; the site is scheduled to reopen in April 2022.[6] In the course of the work, in 2020 excavations by the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust revealed the remains of a large masonry wall on the edge of the inner bailey, which could have been part of the fortifications or an internal building[7] and suggested the original castle may have been timber.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Cadw. "The Bailey Hill, Mold (FL014)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
- ^ a b c Ross, David. "Mold Castle". Britain Express. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ Nicholas, Thomas (2000). Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales. Genealogical Publishing. p. 436. ISBN 978-0-8063-1314-6.
- ^ "History of Bailey Hill, Mold, celebrated with a picnic". BBC. 30 April 2010.
- ^ Pettifer, Adrian (2009). "Mold Castle". Castles of Wales. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
- ^ a b c "Mold's Bailey Hill restored after £1.8m project". BBC News. 6 March 2022.
- ^ "Medieval Discovery on Mold's Bailey Hill". 9 August 2020.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Mold Castle at Wikimedia Commons
