A Norman motte and bailey castle had been constructed on Bailey Hill by the early 12th century, probably under Hugh Fitz-Norman or his nephew, Robert Mohaut. The castle was captured by Owain Gwynedd in 1146 (Griffiths, 2018), retaken and damaged again during further incursions by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth in 1199 and by Dafydd ap Llywelyn in 1245, and ultimately recovered by Edward I in 1277 (HENEB, 2009, Griffiths 2018). The frequency of these military events highlights the town's strategic importance as a frontier settlement between the native Welsh kingdoms and the Marcher lordships during the high medieval period.
By the later 13th century, a nucleated town had formed below the castle. Its planned layout, including High Street (formerly Byle Street), Chester Street, and New Street, is still discernible in the modern urban grid (HENEB, 2009). Although no royal borough charter survives, references to burgage tenures from 1506 and 1611, as well as from the 1652 manor survey, suggest that Mold functioned as a borough by prescription. By the end of the 15th century, the Stanley family held the lordship, with associated documentary references to manorial courts, mills, and civic offices (Mold Town Council, n.d.).
During the Tudor period, Mold appears to have entered a phase of relative stagnation. John Leland, writing in the 1530s, noted the existence of no more than 40 dwellings and a decayed market, although the town still hosted two annual fairs. By 1699, Edward Lhuyd recorded an expanded settlement comprising approximately 120 houses, together with emerging industrial activity, most notably coal extraction (HENEB, 2009).
More substantial growth occurred in the 18th and 19th centuries, linked to the development of extractive industries. A cotton mill was established at Rhyd-y-Goleu by the late 18th century, making Mold one of the first towns in North Wales to accommodate textile manufacturing. Lead smelting was also undertaken locally, with a documented site at Milford Street operating from at least 1597 under the ownership of the Grosvenor family (Heneb, n.d.). The growth of coal mining across the area was accompanied by periods of social unrest and contributed significantly to the industrial character of Mold during the Victorian period.
The Mold Riot of 1869, precipitated by labour disputes, the dismissal of miners for speaking Welsh, and ongoing concerns regarding workplace conditions, resulted in fatalities following the intervention Aeon Archaeology report 0532 Page 9
of military forces (Historic UK, n.d.). This event has come to be seen as a formative moment in the history of workers’ rights in Wales and has remained central to local identity.
In the 20th century, Mold’s civic role expanded. The establishment of Theatr Clwyd and the designation of Mold as the administrative centre of the new county of Clwyd in 1974 consolidated the town’s regional importance. Nevertheless, its archaeological and historical significance continues to be defined by its early funerary monuments, medieval castle, and industrial legacy.
Source: Report of an Archaeological Monitoring & Recording carried out by Aeon Archaeology in 2025, Report no. 0532.
RCAHMW, 2025.