Mold Castle

The outer bailey of Mold Castle

Mold Castle, on Bailey Hill in the town of Mold, Flintshire, Northeast 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.^[1]

History

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-Villaine, 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.^[2]

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.^[3] 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.^[1]

The site

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.^[1]^[4]

References

1 2 3 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.

Coordinates: 53°10′21″N 3°08′40″W / 53.17250°N 3.14444°W / 53.17250; -3.14444

Flintshire

Principal settlements	Afonwen Bagillt Buckley Caerwys Connah's Quay Ewloe Flint Holywell Mold Queensferry Saltney Shotton

Towns and villages	Abermorddu Alltami Aston Park Bretton Broughton Bryn-y-Baal Brynford Cadole Caergwrle Calcoed Carmel Cefn-y-Bedd Cilcain Coed Talon Cymau Deeside Drury Ffrith Flint Mountain Ffynnongroew Greenfield Gronant Glyncorrwg Gwernaffield Gwernymynydd Halkyn Hawarden Holway Higher Kinnerton Hope Leeswood Llanfynydd Llanasa Leadmill Mancot Mostyn Mynydd Isa Nannerch Nercwys Northop Northop Hall Oakenholt Pantasaph Pantymwyn Pentre Halkyn Penyffordd (Buckley) Pen-y-Ffordd (Holywell) Penymynydd Pontblyddyn Rhosesmor Rhes-y-Cae Rhydymwyn Sealand Soughton/Sychdyn Saltney Ferry Talacre Trelawnyd Trelogan Treuddyn Whitford Ysceifiog

Geography	Alyn Gorge Bretton Bridge Caerwys Rectory Clwydian Range Dee Estuary Flintshire Bridge The Gop Greenfield Valley Heritage Park Moel Famau Moel y Gaer Moel y Parc Mostyn Colliery Nant-y-Ffrith Ogof Nadolig Point of Ayr Point of Ayr Gas Terminal River Alyn River Cegidog River Dee River Terrig Talacre Beach Wepre Park

Parliamentary Representation	List of Parliamentary constituencies in Clwyd Flintshire East Flintshire West Flintshire

Community councils	Argoed Bagillt Broughton and Bretton Brynford Buckley Caerwys Cilcain Connah's Quay Flint Gwernaffield Gwernymynydd Halkyn Hawarden Higher Kinnerton Holywell Hope Leeswood Llanasa Llanfynydd Mold Mostyn Nannerch Nercwys Northop Northop Hall Penyffordd Queensferry Saltney Sealand Shotton Trelawnyd and Gwaenysgor Treuddyn Whitford Ysceifiog

Topics	The historic county Alyn and Deeside Broughton Shopping Park Delyn Flintshire County Council Holywell Rural District Maelor Saesneg Maelor Rural District Mold cape Point of Ayr Colliery Company Prestatyn Coal Company RAF Sealand Borough of Rhuddlan Western Mostyn Colliery Company SSSIs Country houses Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Museums Schools History Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings Notable people Sport Visitor attractions

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