[2][3] It has been suggested that it was also a part of an earlier, and larger, castle, although this is disputed and current archaeological thinking discounts the possibility.

[a] It stands on an artificial mound, with a water feature to the west, which has been variously described as a moat,[2] and as an element of flood defences.

[6] In the later 20th century the tower was the country home of the musician and critic, George Melly,[7] who did much to support the development of the Brecon Jazz Festival.

[8] For Melly, the tower's attractions included its proximity to the River Usk where he could indulge his passion for fly fishing.

[9] Melly, a discerning art collector, sold pictures by René Magritte and Pablo Picasso bought for low prices in the 1950s and 1960s, to fund the purchase of a mile-long stretch of riverbank along the Usk behind the tower, facilitating his access to the river.