Llys Rhosyr
Llys Rhosyr is an archaeological site near Newborough in Anglesey; the ruins of a pre-Edwardian commotal court.
Llys Rhosyr was a commotal centre before Edward I of England's conquest of Wales and debate now surrounds the former use of the Rhosyr site. Archaeologists at Gwynedd Archaeological Trust consider it to have been a royal home and have established an exhibition in the Pritchard-Jones Institute in the village on their findings supporting this theory. Excavations reveal that the enclosure had a hall, accommodation and storage barns.
A fierce sandstorm in the winter of 1332 buried the site and much of the surrounding area. Henry Rowlands mentions the site in his 18th century Mona Antiqua Restaurata. By the 20th century nothing was visible on the surface, though local people knew the precise location of the remains, which was always known as 'cae'r llys' ('the field of the court' in English).
From 1992 it was excavated by the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust and was opened to the public for the first time in 1995. What remains is the outlines of the walls, around only a quarter of which are exposed, including the main surrounding wall and foundations and lower walls of three large buildings, possibly the hall, a chamber and storage barns. Many artifacts were recovered from the site, including pottery and silverware indicating use by people of a high social status. A reconstruction of the Great Hall of LLys Rhosyr is planned as part of the redevelopment of St Fagan's National History Museum, using a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded in 2012.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Llys Rhosyr. |
- Llys Rhosyr on BBC.co.uk
- Llys Rhosyr on heneb.co.uk
Coordinates: 53°09′43″N 4°21′56″W / 53.16196°N 4.36555°W
