A TO : UR ROUND NORTH WALES. 83 



>vas planted at the top and round the 

 bottom, with larches and other fhrubs. 

 This place was anciently called Yr Wy-> 

 ddgrug and Mons Altus, both of which 

 have the fame fignification > a lofty 

 mount. 



The caftle appears to have been 

 founded ibmetime during the reign of 

 William Rufus, by Robert Monthault, 

 thefonof Ralph, high fteward of Chef- 

 tef, who from the place received his 

 name of Monthault, or, De Monte 

 Alto.* 



In the year i i 44, it was taken and 

 demolifhed by Owen Gwynedd, Prince 

 of Wales. -f Soon after this it muft 

 have been again rebuilt, for in the win- 

 ter of 1198, it was feized by Llewelyn 

 ap Jorwerth.J Again it muft have got 



* Dugchle's Baronage, I. 527. 



f Powel's Hiftcrjr of Wales, p. 199. 



Pennant, I. 4? 4.. 



G Q into 



