The Rhiwbina Twmpath Today

The Rhiwbina Twmpath is a Norman motte in north Cardiff. It is well preserved, although is now quite over grown. Of the mottes in Glamorgan, only Cardiff Castle and Ystradowen exceed it in size.

The Twmpath reaches its maximum height of about 6.40 metres on its west side. It has a flat top of about 15 metres in diameter. You can still see the ditch encircling the Twmpath, but there is no trace of a bailey or any other buildings.

Running across the field you can see what is probably a medieval ridge and furrow 4.88 metres wide. This abuts the Twmpath ditch around the west side and extends for almost 100 metres south-eastwards towards the Cwm Nofydd stream at the bottom of the field.

The Twmpath stands on a southern terminal spur of a wide expanse of glacial drift, and recent small pits cut into the top show a make up of earth, gravel and small stones.

In 1849, the Twmpath was excavated to its centre. The work was supervised by one F. Fox Esq, and a subscription of £10 was raised to fund the work. An "excessively offensive" black peaty layer 0.60 metres thick was found, together with traces of grass and broom on the old ground surface. Sadly, other than something resembling a piece of iron, the excavation found no historical treasures.