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TimeRef.com
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    Kings and Queens of England Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emporers of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers
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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Skenfrith Castle
Location
Location
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Skenfrith Castle

 County

Monmouthshire (9 castles) 

 Categories

Stone / Baronial castle

 Remains

Small amount survives

 Access

At any reasonable time

 Comments

Originally the nearby river was diverted around the outside of the castle. There are enough remains of this castle for a short visit. The highlight being the remains of the circular keep. Free access to the castle.

 Location51.87861,-2.790219 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Monmouthshire (9 castles) 

 Categories

Stone / Baronial castle

 Remains

Small amount survives

 Access

At any reasonable time

 Comments

Originally the nearby river was diverted around the outside of the castle. There are enough remains of this castle for a short visit. The highlight being the remains of the circular keep. Free access to the castle.

 Location
51.87861,-2.790219
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
kenfrith Castle is one of the 'Three Castles' granted to Hubert de Burgh by King John in 1201. The other two castles are White Castle, also known as Lantilio, and Grosmont Castle. Hubert de Burgh was a wealthy baron who had learnt much about castle defence on his trips abroard. Soon after taking control of the castles he began rebuilding work at Skenfrith and Grosmont. In 1205, while Hubert was being held captive in France, the castles were granted to William de Braose, a favourite of King John. When Hubert was released he returned to England and retook control of the castles. After Hubert's death in 1243 the castles were held by the King and in 1254 they were granted to the future Edward I and in 1267 to his brother Edmund of Lancaster. When the threat of Welsh rebellions died out at the end of the thirteenth century the military history of the castles came to and end and they were mostly used as residences. Skenfrith castle has four sides, though not in the shape of a perfect rectangle. The central keep is circular and pictured opposite. The river Monnow passes the eastern side of the castle and a moat was dug outside the other three sides allowing the river to flow completely around and act as a very good barrier from attack. The north side of the outer wall had a gateway, but this has been destroyed.

Location

See Also

People

  • Burgh, Hubert de (Earl of Kent)
  • Braose, William de
  • Edward (II, King of England 1307-1327)
  • Rievaulx, Peter des
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Places

  • White Castle
  • Grosmont Castle
  • Montgomery Castle
  • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Location Map (click to explore)

3D Virtual Reconstruction

Transport yourself back to the end of the fourteenth century and explore Skenfrith Castle just after its construction.

Built using the popular game development tool Unity 3D, this reconstruction allows you to walk around medieval buildings as they may have appeared in the past.

View this page on a desktop computer to explore the reconstruction.

This reconstruction should work on the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox and Microsoft Edge for Windows 10.

View the video to see what to expect.

Timeline

1190
(to 1200)
Construction on Skenfrith Castle

Built by Hubert de Burgh this castle is one of the three he owned in the Welsh Marches. White Castle, and Grosmont Castle being the other two.

1201
...
Hubert de Burgh granted castles

Hubert de Burgh was granted the three castles of White, Skenfrith and Grosmont in the Welsh Marches by King John.

1205
...
William de Braose granted lands

William de Braose, King John's favourite, was granted the three castles of White, Grosmont and Skenfrith.

Apr
Hubert de Burgh loses his lands

While Hubert de Burgh was defending the castle at Chinon and then later in captivity, King John back in England gave orders for his land to be taken back. By the end of the year the order was given to transfer ownership of the tree castles Skenfrih, Grosmont and Llantilio (White Castle) to William de Braose.

1232
...
Hugh de Burgh loses the Three Castles

When Hugh de Burgh fell from grace, he lost control of the important Monmouthshire castles of White, Grosmont and Skenfrith.

1254
...
Henry gives Edward his own lands

King Henry III granted his eldest son Edward areas of land including Crown lands in Wales, Ireland, the Channel Islands and Gascony. He was also given cities such as Bristol, Stamford and Grantham.These areas were on the edge of Henry's lands and the idea was to give Edward experience of governing lands of his own before becoming king. Edward was granted the three castles in the Marches, Skenfrith, White and Grosmont.

View this page on a desktop computer to explore a virtual UK landscape.

3D Virtual Reconstructions

Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past. Built using the popular game development tool Unity 3D, these reconstructions will run in the most of the popular web browsers on your desktop or laptop computer.

Medieval people

Uncover the lives of the hundreds of kings, queens, lords, ladies, barons, earls, archbishops and rebels who made the medieval people an exciting period of history to live through.

Selection of references used:

  • 1. Sidney Toy, Catles. Their Construction and History, 1985, ISBN:0-486-24898-4
  • 2. Clarence Ellis, Hubert de Burgh, 1952
  • 3. John Chancellor, The Life and Times of Edward I, 1981

    Location

    See Also

    People

    • Burgh, Hubert de (Earl of Kent)
    • Braose, William de
    • Edward (II, King of England 1307-1327)
    • Rievaulx, Peter des
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    Places

    • White Castle
    • Grosmont Castle
    • Montgomery Castle
    • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

    Related Information

    • Why build and live in castles
    • Castle development timeline
    • Keep and bailey castles
    • Castles of William the Conqueror
    • Motte and bailey castles
    • Shell-Keeps
    • Square keeps
    • Polygonal Keeps
    • Castles of Edward I
    • Parts of a castle
    • Location of lots of castles
    • Castle construction timeline

    Related Maps

    • Map of Castles

    Explore the White Tower

    Explore all four floors of the White Tower at the Tower of London using the Unity 3d game engine.

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