Wales
North Wales & Borders

Castles

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Caergwrle Castle
in Caergwrle, Flintshire
Caergwrle was begun by Dafydd ap Grufudd in 1277, as part of his short-lived rebellion against the Normans in Wales. The castle was ruined in the conflict, but later rebuilt by Edward I. A subsequent fire damaged the castle and it was never repaired. Sections of the curtain wall remain, with a round keep and corner towers, all in a poor state.

Castell Dinas Bran
Llangollen, Denbighshire, Clwyd
Here's romance! Set high on a hill above Llangolen, Dinas Bran, or Crow Castle, as it is popularly known, is inextricably linked to the legends of King Arthur. The castle was mentioned in the Arthurian romance Perlesvaus as a possible hiding place of the Holy Grail, and home of Bran (Bron), the Fisher King, brother-in-law of Joseph of Arimathea. Other legends say that a silver harp is hidden in the hill, or that the hill is inhabited by faeries. More prosaically, we know that the present castle is built on the ruins of an Iron Age hill fort. Medieval manuscripts mention a castle here as early as 1073, but the present building is a likely product of the late 13th century. In 1277 the castle was beseiged and destroyed by Henry de Lacy, Earl of Lincoln, on behalf of Edward I. The castle was never rebuilt and lapsed into the romantic ruins we see today. The views over the Dee valley and the town of Llangollen are superb and offer an ample reward for those vigorous enough to undertake the steep climb to the castle.

Chirk Castle
In Chirk, Clwyd, off A5, National Trust, Tel. 01691 777701, Fax 01691 774706
A Border fortress begun by Roger Mortimer around 1295 and completed in 1310. The castle was remodeled extensively by Sir Thomas Myddelton in the late 16th century, and rebuilt following damage in the English Civil War. The grim stone structure is set in lovely parkland of a more peaceful 18th century. Luxurious state rooms in neo-Classical adorn the interior, giving the lie to the forbidding exterior. Offa's Dyke runs through the park surrounding the castle.

Conwy Castle
In Conwy, Gwynedd, Tel. 0492 592358.
Begun in 1283, bristling with 8 round towers and two barbicans. The castle's defensive walls extend to take in the entire medieval core of Conwy town. Edward I considered the site of such strategic importance in his conquest of the Welsh that he rushed craftsmen to Conwy from all over England, and the castle was erected in just one summer of frantic work. The result is one of the most imposing fortresses in all of Europe.

Unlike many Edwardian castles, Conwy is rectangular in plan, rather than the more common design of concentric circles. Visitors can still walk along Edward's curtain wall, and climb the towers for wonderful views. The Great Hall in the outer ward is very large, stretching to 125 feet. The inner ward still showcases remains of the former royal apartments, plus a small chapel.

Conwy is reached by a lovely Regency suspension bridge built by noted engineer Thomas Telford. See map

Deganwy Castle
Deganwy, Gwynedd.
The twin hills above Deganwy show signs of occupation as far back as the 6th century. Legend says that Maelgwyn Gwynedd, one of the most powerful men in post-Roman Wales, held his court here. In 1080 the Norman lord Robert of Rhuddlan built a motte and bailey at Deganwy. This castle was rebuilt by Llywelyn ap Iorwerth around 1213, but his sons later destroyed it rather than allow it to fall to the English under Henry III.

Henry rebuilt the castle and strengthened it again, only to see it fall to Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in 1263. Llewelyn once more destroyed Deganwy, and it was left to molder away since that date. Rumour has it that Edward I used the stones of Deganwy to build his new fortress of Conwy. The paltry ruins which can be seen today are mostly from Henry III's fortification, and include the foundations of the gatehouse towers, traces of Edward I's curtain wall, and the bailey ditches and banks. See map

Denbigh Castle
Denbigh, Denbighshire Cadw. Tel:+44 2920 500200
Denbigh Castle was begun in 1282 by Henry de Lacy for Edward I during Edward's great push to subdue Wales. De Lacy, perhaps symbolically, built his fortress on top of an earlier Welsh castle occupied by Dafydd ap Grufudd. Every trace of the Welsh castle was destroyed, and walls of the new Norman English building were extended to include a new English settlement.

The Welsh temporarily took the castle during the uprising of 1294. When the Normans resumed work after retaking Denbigh, they used a different coloured stone and built more substantial walls, so that the later work is easily distinguished from the earlier foundations at Denbigh.

Denbigh's most striking feature is the Great Gatehouse, comprised of no less than three towers. The gatehouse is probably the work of Edward's master builder, James of St. George. Long sections of the town walls also remain.

Ewloe Castle
near Hawarden, Clwyd, on A55
A Welsh D-shaped design ascribed to Llewelyn Fawr, with later stone wall added by Llewelyn ap Gruffyd in 1257.

Flint Castle
In Flint, Clwyd
The "Gateway to Wales", begun by Edward I in 1277 for his first assault on the Kingdom of Gwynedd. A square plan with detached keep, on Edward's typical massive scale.

Hawarden Old Castle
In a park southeast of town centre of Hawarden, Flintshire, on the B5126.
A Norman earthwork motte survives of an early castle that was later built in stone by Edward I c1280. A well preserved circular keep and scant remains of a rectangular tower remain from the stone castle.

Mold Castle
In the town of Mold, (A541) Flintshire, in a park opposite the parish church.
Remains of a Norman motte and bailey castle built c1140.

Prestatyn Castle
At Prestatyn, A548.
Remains of a motte with surrounding ditch and bailey, built c1160, later destroyed by Owain Gwynedd.

Rhuddlan Castle
Rhuddlan via A525 or A547, Tel. 01745 590777.
Under the care of Cadw
Rhuddlan is famous for being the place where Edward I issued the document, in 1284, that set up the government of Wales under his rule. He held a parliament in the town, and a plaque is on the wall of the Old Parliament House commemorating the event.

Ruthin Castle
In the town centre of Ruthin, A494.
This was a late 13th century, built on a red sandstone ridge during Edward I's campaigns against the Welsh. It has suffered much rebuilding and is now a hotel.

Tomen-y-Rhodwydd
On the A525/B5431, six miles southeast of Ruthin.
A motte and bailey earthwork, rampart, and ditch survive of a castle built in 1149 by Owain Gwynedd.

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Photo Credits - Rhuddlan Castle courtesy of Cadw, Chirk Castle, Denbigh Castle © Barbara Ballard, Dinas Bran courtesy of Wales Tourist Board