The History of the Twmpath

The Rhiwbina Twmpath is a castle motte built by the Normans. It was probably built to resist attacks of Welsh enemies coming down the Cwm Nofydd pass, one of the routes to the hills that lie to the north of Cardiff. The pass followed the path of the Cwm Nofydd stream, which you can still see flowing through the fields below the Twmpath.

Although the first Normans invading Britain largely ignored Wales, within a few years they began to encroach into regions such as the lowlands along the south Wales coast. A persistent hostility then arose between the Normans and the Welsh.

The Twmpath is one of eight known mottes that swept across the north of Cardiff, forming an 8 mile arc between two Cardiff rivers, the Ely and the Rhymney. The other mottes are at Treoda and Castell Coch, which are known to have been medieval manors, and Felin Isaf, Morganstown, Ruperra, Tomen-y-clawdd and Gwen-y-domen.

When was the Twmpath Built?

We don't know exactly when the Twmpath and the other Cardiff mottes were built, although they were probably built at the same time as the motte in Cardiff Castle. The Cardiff Castle motte is the largest in south Wales. It is believed to have been built either during the 1080s, when William the Conqueror was showing his force in south Wales, or by Robert fitz Hamo shortly after the Conqueror's death.

The Early History of the Twmpath

The earliest known mention of the Twmpath dates back to the 13th century, when the Twmpath received its masonry. Strong evidence of Norman activity in the area during the 1140s emerged in 1980 with the discovery of a hoard of over a hundred coins in Coed-y-Wenallt to the north of the Twmpath.

Although the Twmpath started life as an early Norman settlement, later, perhaps in 1158 at the time of Ifor Bach's abduction of Earl William, it may have returned to Welsh ownership. Ifor Bach repulsed encroachments made upon his territory, and in compensation received undefined additional property.