The Castles of Wales
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The
Welsh Castles at Pembroke, Beaumaris, Kidwelly, and those situated on
the River Teifi, reflect Wales’ rich and diverse cultural history.
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Links
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Waterfalls of Wales
Welsh Coracles
The Haven Waterway
Manordeifi Church
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Welsh National Parks
Pembrokeshire Coast
Path
Pre Norman Welsh History
St Davids Cathedral
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Surfing Wales
Welsh Period Cottages
Gardens of Wales
Steam Railways of Wales
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Pembroke Castle - Pembrokeshire
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| Pembroke Castle |
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The mighty Norman fortress of Pembroke stands at a strategic position
within the centre of this busy Welsh town. It was from this very Castle
that the Normans left for their pioneering Irish campaigns. Following
this period of history, the Castle fell into the hands of William Marshal
in 1189. Sir William proceeded to transform the structure from it’s
original timber form into an elegant and imposing stone fortification,
the germ of the structure that can be seen today. The Castle was held
by the Hastings family from 1324 to 1389, later passing into the hands
of the crown. During the nineteenth and twentieth Centuries, a set of
restoration projects allow the Castle to appear in fine condition today
with a remarkable series of round towers, the stunning North East bastion
and the beautiful gatehouse, all of which make this historic site worth
a visit.
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| Beaumaris Castle on Anglesey |
Beaumaris Castle- Anglesey
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| Beaumaris castle, situated on the serenely beautiful
island of Anglesey in North Wales was built by the English monarch, Edward
the first. The Castle allowed King Edward to achieve his aim of stamping
his regal mark upon the Welsh landscape. Beaumaris is truly magnificent
and possibly the most sophisticated example of Medieval military architecture
in Britain. Often described as the ‘perfect concentric castle’,
Beaumaris’ design involves no less than four successive lines of fortification.
However, despite it’s impregnable bearing the construction work on
the Castle was never fully completed and, apart from the civil war during
the seventeenth century it played a very little part in any military action.
The inner ward of the Castle covers an impressively large area of about
three quarters of an acre, surrounded by no less than six towers and two
great gatehouses. The little chapel is perhaps one of the Castle’s
highlights. With it’s vaulted ceiling and pointed windows it should
not be missed by any passing visitor. Within the tower can be found a well
presented exhibition on the “Castles of Edward 1 in Wales”, providing
much background to the building and history of Beaumaris castle. |
| Kidwelly Castle |
Kidwelly Castle- Carmarthenshire
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| Overlooking the flowing river Gwendraeth, Kidwelly
Castle presents a mighty monument of Norman power. Founded as an earth and
timber stronghold by the Normans in 1106, Kidwelly has since undergone a
string of alterations, all conforming to the latest military science of
their time. In the mid-thirteenth Century, the Castle was passed to the
de Chaworth family who built the fortress that stands to this day. In the
year 1298, Kidwelly Castle was passed to the Earl of Leicester who proceeded
to improve the castle to suit his aristocratic needs. Kidwelly Castle’s
most arresting feature is the grand gatehouse. Completed in 1422 it was
an important point in the Castle’s defence mechanism where arrows and
rocks could be thrown at the encroaching enemy. The last significant addition
was made to the Castle at the end of the fifteenth century when a large
hall was built on the west of the outer wall which later held the grand
judicial court of the seventeenth Century |
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Welsh Castles on the River Teifi
Cardigan Castle
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| Cardigan Castle, situated at the
edge of the pleasant and historically important market town of Cardigan
was a site of frequent conflict between the Welsh princes of Deheubarth
and the Norman invaders. It was thought that a motte castle was built upon
this site as early as 1093. The Castle was passed numerous times between
the hands of the Welsh and the Normans until it was taken by Rhys ap Gruffydd
sometime around 1170 and rebuilt in stone. The Castle has great historical
importance as the site of the first National Eisteddfod in Wales, a celebration
of Welsh art, music and culture which has become a modern, national institute.
After many years of private ownership, the Castle has finally been purchased
by Ceredigion County Council and will undergo a massive restoration project
in order to preserve this hidden treasure for the enjoyment of all. |
Supported walls of Cardigan Castle, over looking the
Teifi bridge - Ceredigion
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| Cilgerran Castle |
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| Cilgerran Castle overlooks the gorge
of the winding River Teifi with spectacular views of the surrounded wooded
countryside. It is unsure when the site was initially fortified, although
it is first mentioned in 1164 following it’s capture by the Lord Rhys.
The remains of the stronghold still visible today were constructed by the
son of William Marshal, the Earl of Pembroke during the thirteenth century.
Greatly damaged during the Owain Glyndwr war of independence in 1405, the
Castle was later occupied by the Vaughan family who resided there until
the early seventeenth Century. After this date the Castle fell partly to
ruin but it is still possible for visitors to see fine examples of Medieval
construction such as the magnificent pair of twin towers connected by a
fully intact curtain wall. |
Cilgerran Castle, overlooking the picturesque Teifi
valley - Pembrokeshire
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| Newcastle Emlyn Castle |
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| Newcastle Emlyn Castle, situated
within the quaint market town of the same name was once occupied by Sir
Rhys AP Thomas, a friend of Henry V II. The Castle is thought to have been
founded by Maedudd AP Rhys around 1246. Following this, the Castle became
a crown property until it was taken by Owain Glyndwr, already described
as being in a ruinous state in the year 1428. The Castle was later repaired
and held by Parliament until it’s capture by Sir Charles Gerard in
1644. The Castle was subsequently blown up rendering it indefensible in
the year 1700 and has been left in a neglected state ever since. The dominant
feature of this historical site is the twin towered gatehouse that stands
at the west side of the inner ward. Below the floor of the North gatehouse
exists a well preserved vaulted cellar. A survey made during 1532 also relates
the existence of a chapel adjoining a great hall that appeared to have existed
on the south side of the castle. |
Newcastle Emlyn Castle, Teifi valley - Camarthenshire
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