Buddugre Castle facts for kids

Buddugre Castle (also known as Tomen Bedd-Ugre or Castell Cwm Aran) was an old castle in Wales. It was a special type of castle called a motte and bailey. This means it had a big earth mound (the motte) and a protected area (the bailey).

The castle stood high above the River Ithon. It was located near Llanddewi Ystradenny in Radnorshire, which is now part of Powys. Experts believe it was built in the 12th century. It was likely made of wood and used for defense during the medieval period.

History of Buddugre Castle

People believe that Owain, King of Gwynedd built Buddugre Castle. He built it in the year 1149. Its main purpose was to help defend the vale of Clwyd, an important valley.

Building this castle almost led to a conflict. It brought King Owain close to a fight with Madog ap Maredudd. Madog was the ruler of Powys. He did not like anyone taking over his land or power.

Some stories also suggest that Cadwallon might have built the castle. It was built on top of a hill. This was different from many Norman castles of that time, which were often in valleys.

What Buddugre Castle Looked Like

Today, the castle structures are mostly gone. But you can still see where they once stood. The castle was built on a mound at the end of a ridge. This ridge faced south.

The Motte and Bailey

The main part of the castle was the motte. This was a large earth mound. It was about 34 meters (111 feet) wide. The motte rose about 6 meters (20 feet) high.

Around the motte was a ditch. This ditch was about 1 meter (3 feet) deep. There was also an oval-shaped bailey. The bailey was a protected area next to the motte. It measured about 38 by 56 meters (125 by 184 feet).

Other Structures

There are signs of a rectangular building near the motte. It measured about 26 by 10 meters (85 by 33 feet). This building was likely made of timber or stone. It probably served as a defensive structure.

You can also see "crop marks" nearby. These marks might show where a court or "llys" once stood. A llys was a royal court or hall.

Access to the Castle

The ditch around the motte had two raised paths. These paths were called causeways. They ran from the south and southwest. You could enter the bailey from the south side.

Inside the bailey, there was a hut platform. It was made of earth. This platform measured about 12 by 5 meters (39 by 16 feet). It faced the southwest causeway.