Ruperra Motte, also known as Craig Ruperra Motte, (, or cy, label=none, Castell y Ddraenen) is a

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

motte and bailey A motte-and-bailey castle is a European fortification with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised area of ground called a motte, accompanied by a walled courtyard, or Bailey (castle), bailey, surrounded by a protective Rampart (fortification ...

castle in the community of

Rudry Rudry ( cy, Rhydri) is a small village and community (Wales), community located to the east of Caerphilly in Wales. As a community Rudry contains not only the village of Rudry, but also the villages of Draethen, Garth and Waterloo, Caerphilly, Wat ...

close to the village of

Draethen Draethen is a village in the county borough of Caerphilly County Borough, Caerphilly, South Wales, and the community of Rudry. The village is located some east of Caerphilly, and northeast of Cardiff. Located on the southern reaches of the Rhy ...

in the

Caerphilly County Borough Caerphilly County Borough ( cy, Bwrdeistref Sirol Caerffili) is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. It is governed by Caerphilly County Borough Council. Its main and largest town is Caerphilly. Other towns in the county borough are Bed ...

on the border with Newport in south west

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

. It is a

Scheduled Monument In the United Kingdom, a scheduled monument is a nationally important archaeological site or historic building, given protection against unauthorised change. The various pieces of legislation that legally protect heritage assets from damage and d ...

within the Grade II listed Registered Historic Park & Garden, which also includes

Ruperra Castle Ruperra Castle or Rhiwperra Castle is a Grade II* Listed building and Scheduled Ancient Monument, situated in Lower Machen in the county borough of Caerphilly, Wales. It was built in 1626, now it is in a ruined condition. History Built in 1 ...

History

Ruperra Motte is a medieval motte and bailey castle which sits on an earlier

Iron Age The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age (Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostly appl ...

hillfort A hillfort is a type of earthwork used as a fortified refuge or defended settlement, located to exploit a rise in elevation for defensive advantage. They are typically European and of the Bronze Age or Iron Age. Some were used in the post-Roma ...

, called Craig Ruperra Hillfort. It was built about 1100 as a

Norman Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

type motte or castle. On the top of the motte stood a wooden castle. Ruperra Motte lies on the top of the Coed Craig Ruperra ridge, and was built in that location because of the view of the surrounding area. It is thought to have been part of the Norman invasion of south east Wales. However, it fell into disuse when the larger

Caerphilly Castle Caerphilly Castle ( cy, Castell Caerffili) is a medieval fortification in Caerphilly in South Wales. The castle was constructed by Gilbert de Clare in the 13th century as part of his campaign to maintain control of Glamorgan, and saw extensi ...

was built in 1274. From Coed Craig Ruperra to

Tongwynlais is a village and Community (Wales), community in the north of Cardiff, Wales, north of the M4 motorway in the River Taff, Taff Valley. It is notable as the location of the hillside landmark, . The population as of the 2011 census was 1871. Top ...

lies three castles,

Morgraig Castle Morgraig Castle ( cy, Castell Morgraig) is a ruined castle, which lies close to the southern borders of the county borough of Caerphilly, overlooking Cardiff in Wales. It was built in the 13th century, but there is some debate as to who actually ...

, the early motte at

Castell Coch (; ) is a 19th-century Gothic Revival castle built above the village of in South Wales. The first castle on the site was built by the Normans after 1081 to protect the newly conquered town of Cardiff and control the route along the Taff Gorge ...

,and Ruperra Motte.

Present day

On top of the motte on Craig Ruperra - geograph

Since 2000, Coed Craig Ruperra, which includes the Ruperra Motte, has been owned by Ruperra Conservation Trust. Nothing now remains above ground of the castle's original wooden buildings. The motte today stands 6 metres high with a diameter of 12 metres at the top.

Cadw (, a Welsh verbal noun meaning "keeping/preserving") is the historic environment service of the Welsh Government and part of the Tourism and Culture group. works to protect the historic buildings and structures, the landscapes and heritage s ...

, which works to protect the historic buildings and structures in Wales, says that "The site is of national importance as a multi-period defensive site, with well preserved remains of a hillfort, motte and 18th century garden features. The site is well preserved and retains considerable archaeological potential" The motte is a Scheduled Monument within the Grade II listed Registered Historic Park & Garden, which also includes Ruperra Castle.

References

External links

* {{commons category-inline, Ruperra Motte
Ruperra Conservation Trust
Castles in Caerphilly County Borough Caerphilly Scheduled monuments in Caerphilly Motte-and-bailey castles

History

Present day

See also

References

External links