Castles in Brecknockshire.
Brecon, or Aberhonddu, the seat of Bernard de Neufmarché himself.—A charter of Bernard’s mentions the castle.[960] It seems to have been a particularly strong place, as we do not hear of its having been burnt more than once. The newer castle of Brecon is evidently of the time of Edward I., but across the road the old motte of Bernard is still standing, and carries the ruins of a shell wall, with a gatehouse tower.[961] A portion of the bank and ditch of the bailey remains; the whole is now in a private garden. The situation is a strong one, between the Usk and the Honddu. Brecon of course was a burgus, and part of the bank which fortified it remains.
Builth.
Gemaron.
Payn’s Castle.
Fig. 42.—Motte-Castles of South Wales.
Builth, on the upper Wye, alias Buallt ([Fig. 42]).—A remarkably fine motte and bailey, presenting some peculiarities of plan. It is not mentioned till 1210,[962] but it has been conjectured with great probability that it was one of the castles built by Bernard de Neufmarché when he conquered Brecknock.[963] It was refortified by John Mortimer in 1242,[964] probably in stone, as in the account of its destruction by Llywelyn in 1260 it is said that “not one stone was left on another.”[965] Nevertheless when Edward I. rebuilt it the towers on the outer wall appear to have been of wood.[966] Mr Clark states that there are traces of masonry foundations and small portions of a wing wall. The bailey of this castle consists of a rather narrow platform, divided into two unequal portions by a cross ditch which connects the ditch of the motte with that of the bailey. The ditch round the motte is of unusual breadth, being 120 feet broad in the widest part. The whole work is encircled by an outer ditch of varying breadth, being 100 feet wide on the weakest side of the work, and by a counterscarp bank which appears to be still perfect. The entrance is defended by four small mounds which probably cover the remains of towers.[967] The area of the two baileys together is only 1 acre. [D. H. M.]
*Hay, or Tregelli.—The earliest mention of this castle is in a charter of Henry I.[968] The present castle of Hay is of late date, but Leland tells us that “not far from the Paroche Chirch is a great round Hille of Yerth cast up by Men’s Hondes.”[969] It is shown on the 25-inch O.M., and so is the line of the borough walls.
*Talgarth.—Mentioned in a charter of Roger, Earl of Hereford, not later than 1156.[970] A 13th-century tower on a small motte is still standing, and can be seen from the railway between Brecon and Hereford.