Fifty-seven castles founded in Glamorgan by 1217 are here described. These include mottes. castle-ringworks, and presumed Welsh earthworks, all without masonry, as well as sixteen masonry castles ranging from well known sites at Cardiff, Coity, and Ogmore, to the Welsh stone castle now identified at Plas Baglan. Later defensive monuments will be described in part lb.

Glamorgan castles occur in unrivalled density, their study enriched by an exceptional range of works on local history and records. County borders embrace the lordships ot'Gower and Glamorgan. Most castles lie in the fertile lowlands where Norman rule was imposed. Welsh independence endured in the uplands until the mid-13th-century conquests of the Clare lords. When they inherited Glamorgan in 1217 Norman rule had survived unbroken in the lowlands from the late-11th century, if not in Gower. Profusely illustrated descriptions incorporate comprehensive historical accounts. The Introductory Survey and Sectional Preambles discuss the evidence, illustrated by maps and diagrams. Significant conclusions emerge: William the Conqueror founded Cardiff in 1081; Glacial drift provides a determinant for the segregation of mottes and castle-ringworks; Roman roads, forts, and river crossings influenced Norman settlement; Early Masonry Castles, rare in Wales, were numerous in Glamorgan. Castle of the lords of Glamorgan are of particular interest, especially Newcastle, which might be attributed to Henry II. These lords included King John (1189-1216) and leading magnates of the realm: Rufus's favourite, Robert Fitzhamon (1093-1107); Robert, earl of Gloucester, base son of Henry I (fa. 1J13-47); and later, the great Clare earls (1217-1314) and Edward II's favourite, Hugh Despenser (1317-26).

Content
Map of sites treated in this Part (la) of Volume IIII
Chairman's Preface
Report, with a List of Monuments selected by the Commissioners
as most worthy of preservation
List of Commissioners and Staff
Authorship and Compilation
Presentation of Material

Introductory Survey
I The Division of the material; Parts la and lb Explained
II The Geographical Background
III The Historical Background (1072-1217)
IV The Early Castles Discussed

Inventory of the Early Castles
Section MO: Mottes without Masonry
Section CR: Castle-Ringworks without Masonry
Section UW: Unclassified, probably Welsh Castles
Section VE: Vanished Early Castles
Section MM: Masonry Castles Built Over Mottes
Section MR: Masonry Castles built over Castle-ringworks
Section EM: Early Masonry Castles

Abbreviated Titles of References
Map and List of Ecclesiastical Parishes, with incidence of Monuments
Map and List of Civil Parishes, with incidence of Monuments
Index of National Grid References for sites treated in Part la
Glossary: General
Glossary: Welsh Terms and Place-name Elements
List of Figures, including maps and photographs
General Index
Alphabetical List of sites treated in Part 1 b of Volume III
Map of sites treated in Part lb of Volume III