*SWANSEA, or Abertawy.--This was the castle of Henry Beaumont, the conqueror of Gower. The present castle is comparatively modern. It is inside the town; but there used to be a moated mound outside the town, which was only removed in 1804. It seems probable to us that this was the original castle of Beaumont.[989] That this first castle had a motte is suggested by the narrative in the _Brut_ which tells how Griffith ap Rhys burnt the outworks in 1115, but was unable to get at the tower.[990] *LOUGHOR, or Aberllychor (Fig. 43).--Also built by Henry Beaumont. The mound of the castle still remains, with a small square keep on top. There was formerly a shell wall also. The place of a bailey was supplied by a terrace 15 feet wide.[991] The four castles last mentioned are all at the mouths of rivers, as well as on an ancient (if not Roman) coast road. *LLANDEILO TALYBONT, or Castell Hu.--Only mentioned once in the _Brut_, under 1215, as the castle of Hugh de Miles. A moated mound with a square bailey and no masonry still remains.[992] It commands the river Loughor, which is still navigable up to that point at high tides.[993] On the opposite side of the river is another motte and bailey, called Ystum Enlle. Possibly there was a ford or ferry at this point, which these castles were placed to defend.[994] OYSTERMOUTH, a corruption of Ystum Llwynarth.--First mentioned in the older _Brut_ in 1215, when it was burnt by Rhys Grug. The later version says it was built by Beaumont in 1099. The castle stands on a natural height, fortified artificially by a motte, which is of great size. There is a small bailey below to the N.E., and a curious small oval embankment thrown out in the rear of the castle towards the N.W. The architecture of this magnificent castle is all of the Edwardian style, and as the castle was burnt down by Rhys ap Meredith in 1287, it is probable that only wooden structures stood on this site until after that date. The castle is in a fine situation overlooking the Bay of Swansea. [H. W.] * * * * *