Mathrafal near Welshpool
, in Powys
, Mid Wales
, was the seat of the Kings and Princes of Powys
probably
from the 9th century until its destruction in 1212 by Llywelyn ap Iorwerth of Gwynedd
.
Location
Mathrafal is located about six miles northwest of Welshpool at the
junction of the
A495 and B4389 on the
banks of the
River Banwy.
Description
The site known today as "Mathrafal Castle" is a roughly 100 m
square rectangular compound defended by ditches. Little remains of
the original walls.
Little is known about what the original
structure looked like, however the reports of the excavations of
University of
York
in 1991 provide a little insight;
"The twelfth season of excavation showed that the
castle can still produce new features and artefacts of interest:
namely the vaulted cellar and its forecourt, the curving inner face
of the North Tower, and, most spectacularly, the figurine of St
Gwynllym.
The North Tower and the area between it and the north ditch
provided the greatest interest. The back (south) wall of the Tower
was exposed and was still standing to at least 2m high. There was a
splayed window opening, centrally placed in this wall, and it was
in a cavity in the window base that the figurine was excavated by
Richard Thomas. The artefact, in iron and bronze, was a discovery
of the first significance."
[200247]
The
remaining structures probably date from their construction around
the 11th century and probably replaced an earlier hillfort, about 1 km away, which may date from
around the time of the fall of the neighbouring Kingdom of Pengwern in the 7th century, or perhaps as early as
520 when the capital of Powys was moved from the old Roman town of Viroconium
Cornoviorum
(Wroxeter
).
Prince
Gwenwynwyn ab Owain of Powys moved
his capital from Mathrafal to Welshpool (Y Trallwng) after it was
destroyed during warfare between Powys and Gwynedd in 1212.
Sources
- John Davies, History of Wales, Penguin Books, 1990,
1993.
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