arlech Castle is one of a group of castles built by Edward I in Wales. Begun in 1283 this castle was designed and built by James of St. George, a master castle builder employed for his castle building skills by the King. The castle is built on an outcrop of rock standing some 200 feet above the Tremadoc Bay which is part of Cardigan Bay on the west coast of Wales. In medieval times the sea would have washed up at the base of the outcrop of rock, but since then the sea has receded to form a broad sandy shoreline. This castle is concentric and has three sets of walled enclosures one inside the other. The inner walls being much taller than the outer. Caerphilly in South Wales and Beaumaris on Anglesey are other examples of concentric castles. The outermost walls at Harlech follow the contours of the edge of the rocky crag. On the seaward side of the castle is a steep path originally defended by a gatehouse and drawbridge.

The castle was captured by the Welsh as part of the revolt of Owen Glendower in 1404. Owen then used the castle as his base of operations against the English. The English besieged the castle in 1407 and the siege lasted until 1409 when the revolt came to an end.

Harlech Castle Key Facts
Categories	[Edward I] [Concentric]
Built on top of a 200 foot high outcrop of rock overlooking the Tremadoc Bay

Mini Timeline

1283	Mar	Castle Criccieth captured
		Edward moved around the Welsh coast to attack and capture the Welsh castle at Criccieth. He then moved on and ordered another castle to be built at Harlech.
	May	Harlech Castle begun
		Work began on Harlech Castle. Money for the construction being moved from Cymer Abbey a few miles to the south of the new castle's location.
1404		Harlech Castle siege
		The Welsh captured Harlech Castle and the fortress became the base for Owen's revolt.
1407		Harlech Castle siege
		The English besiege the Welsh in Harlech Castle.
1409	Mar	Harlech falls to the English
		The Welsh in Harlech Castle surrender to the English and the revolt of Welsh comes to an end. Edmund Mortimer was killed.
1460	Summer	Queen Margaret flees to Wales
		After the Lancastrian defeat at Northampton, Queen Margaret and her son Edward escaped to Wales and the safety of Harlech Castle.1
1464	Jun	Herbert becomes Constable of Harlech
		Could be 1463. William Herbert was given the title of Constable of Harlech Castle.2