More information : [SW 48483500] Castle-an-Dinas [NR]
(Hill Castle) [NR] (1)
"Castle-an-Dinas, in Ludgvan...consisted orginally of two very thick
concentric uncemented stone walls, with an annular space of about 30
feet between them. The outer wall is more than 12 feet thick. Of the
inner wall nothing now remains but its foundations, which are about
12 feet thick, and enclose an area about 180 feet in diameter...The
two great walls of Castle-an-Dinas...were surrounded, at the distance
of 40 or 50 feet, by an external vallum of earth and stones; and
exterior to all these is another strong wall towards the west,
reaching nearly half round the castle. In Borlase's time (a) there
were many circular enclosures within the central area, each about 7
yards in diameter, formed by walls only two or three feet high." (2)
Castle-an-Dinas, Ludgvan, is scheduled as an ancient monument. (3)
Castle-an-Dinas occupies the summit of a broad hill. The situation
offers no great natural defence, but there is a wide view of the
surrounding country. Of the four concentric ramparts the inner one is
the least preserved. Its low tumbled wall is extant only in the south
and south-east, though foundations can be traced completing the
enclosure. Outside this is a thick ruined wall, now a tumble of loose
stones but with the remains of a vertical outer retaining wall
visible in places. The third rampart is of earth and stones, utilised
in part as a modern field boundary. The fourth and outermost bank
extends from the south-west to the north and for much of its length
is accompanied by an outer ditch. It is the strongest of the four
defences and faces the area most vulnerable of approach. There is no
evidence of continuation around the perimeter. It is broken in two
places: in the southwest where a gap and out-turning may be the
result of earth digging, and in the west at SW 4842 3501. At this
point there is a distinct bank out-turned from the next inner defence
and is suggestive of an original entrance although mutilation makes
its precise form hard to define. There are no complementary gaps in
the inner ramparts; those which occur in the south east are modern to
accommodate the 18th century tower and the track leading to it. None
of the internal features mentioned in (2) remain.
A 25" survey has been made. (4)
No change from survey of 30.9.60. (5)
Castle-an-Dinas (NAT) Hill Fort (NR) (6)
Circular Iron Age hillfort, almost certainly of two phases. There are
three complete ramparts and one incomplete, of stone and earth
construction. Innermost diameter about 200ft.
Two stone weights, two swords and a ring have been found at Castle an
Dinas; the weights now in Truro Museum. (7-8)
SW 485 350. Castle-an-Dinas, Ludgvan. Listed in gazetteer as a
multivallate hillfort with widely spaced ramparts covering 0.45ha
(total area 1.17ha). (9)
Additional reference with plan. (10)
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