Dyserth Castle
Only the site (on Graig Bach, small eminence between Graig Fawr and Dyserth village) remains of the old fortress, where much fighting was seen. Shattered fragments of walls ranged round an inner bailey existed up to about 1900. Excavation only 2ft. down has brought to light remains of four periods – Neolithic, Bronze, Romano-British and Medieval – suggesting that the hill was fortified during all these periods. There are literary and traditional references to a "Castell Dincolyn" here in pre-Norman times. Henry III held Dincolyn in 1238, and re-built it in 1241. It was taken and re-taken, and was finally destroyed by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in 1263 after a fierce resistance lasting five weeks. Excavations made by Mr. Leonard Hughes, R.C.A., showed the fortress to have been a very fine one, with outer entrenchment's of stone and a drawbridge. |
