John Brandrick, of the Friends of Whitland Abbey, has been very kindly creating a virtual model of Nevern Castle. (John’s speciality is making models of the workings of old mills. He has visited many mills around Britain.) Here are some projections taken from his model.
Author: admin
Botanical survey
On 24th April 2025, local ecologist Steve Halton undertook a detailed survey of plant species at the site of Nevern Castle. 73 species were noted. Annual Meadow Grass Poa annua Ash Fraxinus excelsior Beech Fagus sylvatica Blackthorn Prunus spinosa Bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta */** Bracken Pteridium aquilinum Bramble Rubus fruticosus Broad-leaved Dock Rumex obtusifolius ** Cleavers Galium aparine Cocksfoot Dactylis glomerata ** Common Polypody Polypodium vulgare* Cow Parsley Anthriscus sylvestris ** Crested Dog’s-tail Cynosurus cristatus ** Curled Dock Rumex crispus ** Cut-leaved Cranesbill Geranium dissectum ** Daffodil Narcissus agg. Daisy Bellis perennis ** Dandelion Taraxacum officinale agg. ** Dewberry Rubus caesius Dog’s Mercury Mecurialis perennis * Doves foot Cranesbill Geranium molle ** Early Dog-violet Viola reichenbachiana */** Early Purple Orchid Orchis mascula */** Field Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis ** Field Woodrush Luzula campestris ** Foxglove Digitalis purpurea Germander Speedwell Veronica chamaedrys ** Goat Willow Salix caprea Gorse Ulex europaeus Greater Bindweed Calystegia silvatica Greater Plantain Plantago major ** Greater Stitchwort Stellaria holostea */** Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea */** Hairy Bittercress Cardamine hirsuta ** Hard Rush Juncus inflexus ** Harts tongue Fern Asplenium scolopendrium * Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Hazel Corylus avellana Herb Robert Geranium robertianum ** Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium ** Holly Ilex aquifolium… Continue reading Botanical survey
Maintenance work
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, who maintain the Castle site on behalf of the owner, Nevern Community Council, have sent an update on recent and planned work at the Castle. Planned for early 2025: Update March 2025 The above work has been done, and the site is now looking a bit smarter. Fencing repaired, trees out of the way of the paths, and the steps down to the rock-cut ditch have been fitted with renewed risers. There is now more and firmer space for cars up at the NW gate:
Contour map
We have been given a detailed elevation map of the castle, created from a LIDAR survey taken in 2023. LIDAR is effective at finding the height of the ground (despite tree cover) in high resolution. The contours are derived from the LIDAR data. In this view, they are superposed on a section of the OpenStreetMap. The vertical pitch of the contours is 0.2m and the pitch of the blue grid is 10m. The motte and the Square Tower are clearly visible. The banks and ditches are not as high or deep as they would have been in Norman times, and the modern accessible entrance path breaches the old northern banks at their eastern ends. We can see the shallow ditch that is all that remains of a defensive separation between keep and bailey in the castle’s early history. The wall jutting into the south west side of the bailey is relatively modern.
BBQ
Friends of Nevern Castle held the annual barbecue on the August bank holiday Monday. An interesting mixture of local residents and visitors from distant parts, including several young families, came to sit in the bailey and eat delicious beefburgers, sausages and rather good beanburgers. Food and drinks were served by members of the Friends committee and members of Nevern Community Council, who own the site. Rory Thomas-Stone, who recently repaired the walls of the Square Tower, was on hand to tell us about the special techniques used in the restoration.
Guidebook published
A guidebook to Nevern Castle written by the archaeologist Dr Chris Caple has now been published. It is available in English and Welsh and is on sale for £10. Buy the Guidebook from our online shop. Copies are also available from Newport Visitor Information Centre; the Trewern Arms; Castell Henllys; and from Nevern Memorial Hall opposite the church, when it is open for coffee mornings.
Guide books published!
Dr Chris Caple’s Guide to Nevern Castle is now available. It’s an overview of the history of the castle, and in particular the archaeological findings of the digs led by Chris 2008-2018. Chris is working on a more comprehensive publication aimed at archaeologists, but this Guide is very accessible to all. It’s available in both Welsh and English versions. The price of £10 will go to Friends of Nevern Castle to be used for educational materials about the castle.
Craft fair 2nd March
There will be a craft market at the village hall on 2nd March, with the church bells as an acoustic backdrop. Information and tours of the castle will be on offer. The village hall is at the end of Nevern nearest the bridge. From the Trewern Arms (SA42 0NB), cross the bridge and look to your right.
