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 Owain Glyndwr in 1404. Owain 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.
