Some notes from
The Gwynedd Archaeological Trust Excavation of
TYN Y MWD,

Background
In November 1993 Gwynedd Archaeological Trust undertook the excavation of an area at Tyn y Mwd, in Aber, SH 6568 7265 in a field immediately adjacent to the Norman Motte, Pen y Mwd, (SAM C007). The excavation was funded by Cadw as part of the Llys and Maerdref project and was aimed at clarifying the nature of the remains uncovered during an excavation in January 1993, occasioned by a planning application on that site.
The earlier assessment had identified the stone foundations of a rectilinear building in circumstantial association with mid 13th century pottery. However, while identifying the archaeological potential of the site, the nature and form of the structure remained uncertain. The excavation of November 1993 was intended to clarify the nature of the structure, and to this end a total of 120sq.m was excavated.

Excavation
An initial area totalling 80sq.m was opened to expand upon the results of the January excavation. Confirmation of the presence of a substantial stone structure led to the excavation of additional trenches in an attempt to recover a more complete building plan. On completion of the excavation the plan of a long rectangular structure aligned N-S, in three units with winged projections at north and south ends, could be postulated. The northern limit of this structure was incorporated in a later field boundary and, immediately to the south of this boundary, a post-medieval track had truncated deposits associated with the building. Ploughsoil and post-medieval deposits were cleared but no in situ stratified deposits associated with the structure were removed and excavation was halted at the horizon of the building foundations. The potential for identifying earlier structural detail, penetrating the subsoil, remains. A quantity of pottery was recovered, in the ploughsoil, at the interface between the ploughsoil and subsoil and in post-medieval contexts.

Structural remains
The structure had been robbed to a single course of its foundations except where localised preservation had occurred as, for example, where part of a later field boundary had incorporated original walling at the north end. In places the foundations themselves had been robbed. The foundations of a rectangular, three unit, building can be postulated from the excavated evidence. Acceptance of this interpretation would require a building 26m in total length with a central unit measuring 11.2 x 8m internally; a southern wing 10.8 x 5m internally and a northern wing less certainly c.l3 x 5m internally. The width of the foundations is generally, l.l m with local variations and their composition is typically large sub-rounded boulder facing stones with rubble infill in brown silty clay. No evidence for thresholds or doors was identified and this is probably to be explained by the survival of the structure at foundation level only.
The absence of a hearth may be explained either by the incomplete excavation of the northern part of the central unit or by the almost complete removal in the course of later activities of original floor surfaces.
The structure had been robbed to a single course of its foundations except where localised preservation had occurred as, for example, where part of a later field boundary had incorporated original walling at the north end. In places the foundations themselves had been robbed.
The excavated evidence suggests the possible modification of an original structure in two instances.
a) The south end of the east wall of the central unit has been truncated and the north wall of the south wing butts this wall at this point.
b) The masonry of the north wing is mortared.

Artefacts
A quantity of pottery was recovered during the course of the excavations. The majority is post-medieval in date and occurs in the ploughsoil and in contexts associated with a post-medieval track which truncates the rectangular structure at its northern end.
Approximately thirty sherds of medieval pottery were recovered from the ploughsoil and from the interface between the ploughsoil and subsoil. Preliminary analysis suggests that the majority is of the 13th and 14th centuries with a few sherds of the 14th or 15th centuries.
One bronze ring brooch 0.30m diameter with punched decoration was recovered. It is of 13th or 14th century date.

Conclusions The building identified might best be interpreted as a three unit, winged hall house having undergone modification to reach its final form in the 14th century. Fig. 4 illustrates a selection of Caernarfonshire halls of the 14th century for comparison. Antiquarian references consistently draw attention to the presence of building remains in the vicinity of the motte at Aber and some associate these remains with the pre-conquest Llys. In this connection, and with reference to the mortared masonry of the north wing, it might be appropriate to draw attention to the following Ministers' account of the early 14th century PRO.E101/485/30: to see Photographs of the dig

In preparing the site of the Hall and Chamber [at Aber] at task 8/- To Masons supplying carriage of stone, setters, porters, and in carriage of sand at task by William of Kyrkby and Ithell of Bangor masons in the 3rd year of Prince Edward £17. 9s. 3d.
Total £17. 17s. 3d.'
"Further expenses laid out on the works of the Hall and Chamber of the Lord Prince at Aber in the 6th year of Prince Edward, by the hands of Richard of Hokenhall (? Hucknall), namely:-
In carriage of 4 boatloads of stone from the sea to Aber at task, at (several) times 4/-. And to hiring 2 carts with 2 horses and 2 boys (or grooms) for carrying stones of freestone, lime and sand, for 57 working days 28/6d. That is each taking 3d. a day

Later in the document it says as follows

 Finally the report has shown how the eclipse of the Welsh administrative system by the Edwardian boroughs has rendered a number of these sites vulnerable to a whole range of potentially damaging developments. With this in mind there may be scope for considering an extension of the "Ilys and maerdref project beyond the confines of Gwynedd.

ABER

Commote of Arllechwedd Uchaf NGR SH 659 729
Located on the north coast of Gwynedd at the estuary of the Aber river, at a point where the ancient packhorse, Roman and prehistoric road, crossing the uplands from the Conwy valley came down on to the coastal plain. The Aber valley is dominated by the Iron Age hillfort Maes y Gaer.

EARLY HISTORY
An undocumented motte stands central to the present village on the west bank of the river. The Motte is a particularly fine example 36.5m in diameter at its base and 6.7m high. The church of St Bodfan's which may be an early foundation lies 300m further west. Aber is often referred to as a favourite residence of the Princes of Gwynedd in the thirteenth century (Davies 1987 119).
Joan, Llywelyn ab lorwerth's wife died at Aber in 1237 as did his son Dafydd ap Llywelyn in 1246 (Thomas Jones 1955 235 239). LLywelyn ap Gruffydd is known to have stayed at Aber in March of 1274 and December of 1276 (Stephenson 1984 233). Edward I stayed at Aber from August 22 - 28 in 1284.

LLYS BUILDINGS
References to the Court buildings are to be found in a number of post-conquest documents. Arch Camb 1863 PI 92 Nov 6 1289
"An act to repay Robert de Slaundon the sum of £20 which he expended in rebuilding the houses of Aber and Bala which had been unfortunately destroyed by fire".

PRO E101 485/30 (1303-4)
"In preparing the site of the Hall and Chamber (at Aber) at task 8/- To Masons supplying carriage of stone, setters, porters, and in carriage of sand at task by William of Kyrkby and Ithell of Bangor masons in the third year of Prince Edward £17. 9s.3d.
Further expenses laid out on the works of the Hall and Chamber of the Lord Prince at Aber in the sixth year of Prince Edward, by the hands of Richard of Hokenhall (? Hucknall), namely:-
In carriage of four boatloads of stone from the sea to Aber at task, at (several) times 4/-. And to hiring two carts with two horses and two boys (or grooms) for carrying stones of freestone, lime and sand, for fifty-seven working days 28/6d. That is each taking 3d. a day."

Antiquarian References

By comparison with many of the other sites discussed in this report there is a fairly large collection of antiquarian references referring to the remains of the Llys at Aber.  The references mainly concern two locations, the site of the motte known as Pen y Mwd and the site of the late or post medieval house called Pen y Bryn. (Several references manage to combine both the motte and Pen y Bryn into one site).

Leland's Itinerary (1530'S)
The moode in the parish of Aber otherwise Llan Boduan wher Tussog Lluelin uab Gerwerde Trundon had a castle or palace on a hill by the Chirch, wherof yet parte stondith.

Pennant Tours in Wales (1778)
At the entrance of the glen close to the village, is a very large artificial mount. Hat at top, and near sixty feat in diameter, widening towards the base. It was once the site of a castle belonging to Llywelyn the Great. Some foundations are yet to be seen round the summit , and in digging traces of buildings have been discovered.

Nicolas Carlyle: Topographical Dictionary of Wales ( 1811)
In the village is an artificial mound of earth about 15 feet high and about 15 yards in diameter nearly circular, the interior of it has not been investigated, but it is supposed to contain the remains of some of the welsh Princes who had a palace at Aber. A small portion of old building is pointed out near this mound as the only remaining vestige of the palace of Llywelyn ap lorweth drwyndyn the last prince who resided at Aber.

Cambrian Tourist (1821)
Near the bridge is a circular mount seemingly artificial, which was the foundation of a small castle, probably constructed of timber, as many of the welsh fortresses were: vestiges of the moat and its feeder from the river still remain.
" Traces of buildings have been discovered near this spot, which were probably the remains of the princes palace, as the inhabitants still pretend to show strangers the foundations of the old kitchen.

C Frederick Cliffe The Book of North Wales (1850)
At the mouth of a rapid stream (up which salmon run) is an artificial mount the site of an ancient watch tower, locally called "Llewelyns Kitchen". The palace of Llywelyn and some of his predecessors stood near the house with a round gable tower, called Pen y Bryn, part of which was built in Henry VIII's reign by Sir William Thomas Knight Banneret, an old warrior.

Catheral Wanderings in North Wales (1851)
In the mouth of the defile, near the village, stands a great artificial mound, the site in other days, of one of Llywelyn's palaces. Many years ago some antiquarian by excavating for the purpose, discovered several of its many substructions.

ArchCamb (1860)
The tumulus at Aber is of military character and was once surmounted by defences probably of wood. It may have been connected with the palace Llywelyn the Great is said to have had in this place ....
The only other object of interest is the house at Pen y Bryn, a defensive structure, partially of the sixteenth century, part of which consists of a small square tower of semi defensive character.

T Nicholas 1872 Annals and Antiquities of the Counties and County Families of Wales (1871)
The castle of the princes of Gwynedd at Aber has nearly disappeared. The date of its origin is entirely unknown. The mound on which it stood, close to the village, is visible, with traces of motte surrounding it; fragments of clotted masonary lie about in the fences; but no walls remain, unless buried in the mound. On top of the hillock is now a kitchen garden, and the cottagers grow their potatoes about the foot of it with happy unconsciousness that they are dealing too familiar terms with an historic spot.

Three Days in Aber Village (1874)
"you find yourself in a lew minutes more before a huge barbaric Round Tower, the principle and almost only vestige of Llywelyn's Castle at the present day. Attached to this tower is a most romantic structure, almost as barbarous looking as the tower itself, and built entirely, we are told of the ruins of the ancient palace. It is at present used as a farm house....At the further end of the cavern, or cellar or prison or what ever it had been, I could perceive the commencement of a subterranean passage, which led I was afterwards informed, to some solitary spot in the glen.

The Old Churches of Snowdonia H Hughes H L North (1924)
Before leaving Aber Pen y Bryn should be visited. It is traditionally the house of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. The present house possibly built upon earlier foundations, dates from the sixteenth century, but the base of the tower is much more ancient. The barn to the left has some rows of small split windows with flat heads and broadly splayed jambs inside, composed of large pieces of Anglesey grit stone, triangular on plan. Whether they are in their original position or whether they were brought from the tower, cannot now be stated, but it is quite possible that they are genuine Welsh work of the thirteenth century. Most unfortunately they have been partly blocked up a few years ago. The building is like a small edition of the great barn at Vaynol dated 1604.

Bezant Lowe The Heart of Northern Wales 1927
On a slight eminence near Aber stands Pen y Bryn, a fine old house said to have been built on the site of the palace of Llywelyn the great, where resided several of the Welsh Princes. Leiand, in his Itinary, reffering to Llywelyn ap lorwerth says "He had a house in the wood on a hill, in the parish of Aber, part of which now standeth". Traditionally it is said to have been connected with a mound, presumably the "Mwd," near to the entrance of the Glen.

T Jones Pierce Aber Gwyn Gregin TCHS (1962)
Although the actual site of Y Ty Hir cannot now be precisely located, this ancient seat of the princes of Gwynedd was probably situated on or near the elevated site now occupied by the house known as Pen y Bryn.

Leyland's reference to the moode (the Norman Motte) listed under the heading Castelles in Cair Arvonshire is the earliest reference to the Llys at Aber. Pennant and others clearly follow Ley land in referring to the remains visible adjacent to the motte. The earliest reference to Pen y Bryn occurs in 1851 although in 1871 the motte continued to be associated with the site of the Llys although it would appear that the building foundations referred to in earlier accounts were no longer visible. By and large from the 1870s onwards speculation concerning the location of the Llys is directed at Pen y Bryn. There are some exceptions to this trend, for example Sir J E Lloyd " In the village of Aber a motte marks the situation of the Prince's Court the Ty Hir, or Long House, which was the royal hall...." (Lloyd 1937 204). In 1956 the RCAHMW thought it "possible that it (the Ilys) stood on or near the motte Pen y Mwd (RCAHM 1956 2).

Maps
It has not proved possible to locate any early estate maps for Aber. The tithe map for Aber contains important information on the township boundaries within the parish.

Surface fieldwork, see excavation report, Geophysical survey, There are a number of surveys at Tyn y Mwd, see appendix.

Assessment excavation, Excavations have been conducted at both Pen y Mwd and Pen y Bryn, see enclosed report. In addition the RCAHMW has conducted a further survey at Pen y Bryn.

INTERPRETATION

The ecclesiastical parish of Aber contains the manor of Aber the township of Wig and the free township of Bodsilyn. The boundaries of the manor can be traced on the Tithe map (see also Jones Pierce 1962). The modern village of Aber represents the survival of the medieval hamlet which in the late thirteenth century consisted of a community of twenty-four families. In the fourteenth century markets and fairs at Aber were legally recognised by the English crown (Lewis 1912 175, 177, 180, 194).

The identification of a three unit hall house at Pen y Mwd is a significant step towards the recognition of the individual units which would have comprised a Llys complex.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Scheduled status has been extended to include the two fields adjacent to the motte containing the hall house. A management agreement is in place with the SNP. A fuller excavation report is in preparation by GAT. The excavator suggested that there were sealed deposits on the north end of the hall house. Should there be any further controversy concerning the location of the Llys at Aber then further limited excavation would probably be capable of resolving this point. Llan Boduan
and pictures on other sites. The layout of the stone foundations of a palatial winged hall were found and associated with the mid 13th century. The area of the Hall can be seen to the right and just above the Mwd as light shading in the grassy field