Castles in Wales - Mid Wales & Brecon Beacons
A Norman motte and bailey castle was begun near this spot by Bernard de Neufmarche about 1093. The remains of the motte can still be seen in the garden of the Bishop's Palace, with the remnants of a 13th-century stone keep. Contemporary with the keep was the great hall. The castle was besieged 6 times in the 13th century, succumbing on 3 occasions.
Castle Street,
Brecon,
Brecon Beacons,
Powys,
Wales
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Bronllys Castle is a mid-12th century stone keep perched atop an earlier motte overlooking the River Llynfi. Remains of the surrounding baileys are scant, and there is no remaining trace of any buildings within the walls apart from the round keep, which still towers 80 feet above the motte.
Bronllys,
Powys,
Wales
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Builth Castle was one Edward I's first castles in Wales. It was begun about 1277 on the site of an earlier motte. The castle stands on a high bluff on the eastern edge of the town. Little remains today beyond the outline of earth-covered walls, but in its time Builth ranked with Harlech and Caernarfon as one of Edward's most impressive fortifications in Wales.
Castle Road,
Builth Wells,
Powys,
Wales
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A Norman motte and bailey castle dating to the 12th century. The castle was later abandoned and the site of the motte used for a 14th century manor house.
Sennybridge,
Powys,
Wales
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Traces of earthwork is all that remains of this castle with the turbulent past so typical of many Welsh castles. Carreghoffa was built about 1101 by Robert de Bellesme, but captured the following year by Henry I. Henry II extended the fortifications, and installed an English garrison. The Welsh retook the castle in 1163, only to have Henry take it back in 1165.
Llanyblodwel,
Powys,
Wales
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Castell Blaen Llynfi is the scant late Norman ruins of a large bailey and ditch and a rubble curtain wall. The castle (also known as Blaenllynfi) was built sometime between 1208-1215, and was rebuilt in the middle of the 14th century.
Bwlch,
Powys,
Wales
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A simple translation of the Welsh name of this castle tells a lot about it. Crug Eryr translates as "The Eagle's Crag", a good description of this dramatic hilltop above the Edw valley. The name may relate to Llywelyn Crug Eryr, a well known herald bard, who may have resided here. The castle itself is a very rudimentary earthwork motte and bailey.
Llanfihangel-nant-Melan,
Powys,
Wales
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A native Welsh castle built around 1260, Castell Du consists of ruinous walls and the fragmentary remains of a mural tower. A perimeter wall encloses an area about 26 metres on one side. In the wall is a projecting tower in the D-shape favoured by Welsh military architects.
Castle Road,
Sennybridge,
Powys,
Wales
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Castell y Blaidd is not a castle in the traditional sense, but a ringwork defensive enclosure of Norman vintage, open at one end like a horseshoe. There are no verifiable remains of construction within the defences, which sit on a high elevation near a pass through the hills. The Glyndwr's Way long distance path runs beside the site.
Llanbadarn Fynydd,
Powys,
Wales
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This motte and bailey castle which gives its name to the village of Castle Caereinion was begun in 1156 by Madog ap Maredudd, prince of Powys. Madog's nephew, Owain Cyfeiliog, allied himself with the Normans, and as a result the castle was seized by Lord Rhys and Owain Gwynedd in 1166.
Castle Caereinion,
Powys,
Wales
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