07/14/2005

Medieval Siege Engines at Caerphilly Castle

Welsh Castle hosts medieval machines
Caerphilly Castle will be the site of a medieval battlefield over the ‘Big Cheese Weekend’ on Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 July as the Siege Engines of War are put into operation at the largest castle in Wales.

The mighty medieval siege engines, reconstructed from original drawings, will unleash their awesome destructive power on the Castle every hour on the hour between 12 noon and 4pm. There will also be an opportunity for visitors to learn from the experts on how the ‘engines of war’ sent the medieval equivalent of super missiles and smart bombs to smash and burn those under siege into submission.

Caerphilly was built in the late 13th century by the Anglo-Norman lord, Gilbert de Clare to consolidate his grip on the lands he had captured. De Clare’s castle is a supreme example of the concentric ‘walls within walls’ system of defence, with water also playing a crucial role.

The castle has outstanding water defences, boasting lakes which were created with three artificial islands, making it almost impregnable to siege warfare, and although it was often threatened, the castle was never taken.

The Company of Chivalry, a living history society from Bath will be operating the huge machines at Caerphilly Castle where there will also be various military displays and a collection of medieval groups from different periods.

Wayne Evans, Cadw’s Visitor Services Manager, said, “I love this event. The siege engines are incredibly dramatic and certainly get everybody’s attention. The firing of the siege engines manages to bring the castle to life like no other event.

“Visitors who have never been to see this event before are always delighted by what they see and hear!”

There will also be another opportunity to witness the firing of the siege engines, and the activities of the Company of Chivalry, at Caerphilly Castle on August Bank Holiday weekend. The firings, which form a part of Cadw’s 2005 Events Programme, will be on Sunday 28 & Monday 29 August every hour on the hour from 12:00 noon until 4:00 p.m.

Web: http://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/visiting/attractions/caerphillycastle.htm