Welsh Journals

THE ROMAN FORT AT TOMEN-Y-MUR. By C. A. GRESHAM. THE auxiliary Roman fort of Tomen-y-mur in the parish of Maen- twrog, Merionethshire, has long been known to archaeologists. It is mentioned by Pennant1 and Fenton in their Tours of Wales and by Sir Richard Colt Hoare in his Giraldus Cambrensis.3 Several des- criptions of the site occur in Arch. Camb., chiefly in connection with visits of the Society4 and, previous to the first two of these, digging was undertaken at the south-east entrance and in the adjoining buildings. In 1871 a complete article was devoted to the fort by the Rev. E. L. Barnwell5 and later an intaglio and the ampitheatre were separately noted.6 The site is also mentioned in a number of articles and books dealing with Roman Wales, but up to the present no detailed survey of the whole area7 has appeared, with the exception of certain features on the 25-in. Ordnance Map.8 NAME. The original name of the fort is not known and it is now generally called Tomen-y-mur with reference to the most conspicuous feature of the site, the Norman motte. The name Mur-y-castell in the Mabinogi of Math vab Mathonwy is regarded as referring to this spot.9 LOCATION. The fort is situated on the south-east slope of a rounded spur of Mynydd Maentwrog, two miles due north of Trawsfynydd. It is just above the 900 foot contour line and commands an extensive outlook in almost every direction-north over the Vale of Ffestiniog and west to Eifionydd and the sea, while southwards the whole of the upland valley of Trawsfynydd is visible with Cadair Idris in the extreme distance. The site is on a layer of glacial material, which accounts for its smooth outline, in contrast to the bare rocky nature of most of the mountainside round it. This fact, together with its commanding position, probably led to the selection of the spot by the Romans. The situation is an exceptionally exposed one and virtually no shelter is obtained from the slight slope of the ground, whatever the direction of the wind may be.