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  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Chepstow Castle
Castle
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Chepstow Castle

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 County

Monmouthshire, Wales (9 castles) 

 Categories

Stone / Cliff-top

 Remains

Not complete but much survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location51.6438,-2.6763 (Google Maps)
///games.microchip.speeds
 DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Monmouthshire, Wales (9 castles) 

 Categories

Stone / Cliff-top

 Remains

Not complete but much survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Location
51.6438,-2.6763
///games.microchip.speeds
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
hepstow Castle is situated on the mouth of the river Wye and is a gate-house to the Vale of Wye. Built by William or his son Roger Fitz Osbern on a high cliff overlooking the river the castle was well situated to control movements and as a base for further exploration of Wales. In the early 12th century the castle came into the hands of the de Clare family. When Richard 'Strongbow' de Clare died in 1176 he left a daughter Isabel as heiress. Isabel married William Marshal and the castle remained with the Marshal family until 1245 when the last in the Marshal line died. Chepstow then passed on to Roger Bigod, the fourth Earl of Norfolk.

The castle is built on a thin, steeply sided rocky outcrop overlooking the River Wye. The rear of the castle is defended by a natural ravine. Internally the castle is divided into three separate baileys, an upper, middle and lower bailey following the contours of the rocky foundations it stands upon.

Location

See Also

People

  • Marshal, William (Earl of Pembroke)
  • Fitz Osbern, William (Earl of Hereford)
  • Fitz Osbern, Roger (Earl of Hereford)
  • Clare, Richard fitzGilbert de (Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

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

Related Episodes

Norman Conquest (click here)

Norman Conquest (click here)

Timeline

1067

...

Chepstow Castle begun

Construction of Chepstow Castle is begun.

1070

...

Building work at Chepstow

William Fitz Osbern built the hall at Chepstow Castle. ¹

1075

...

Chepstow Castle passes to the crown

Roger Fitz Osbern joined an unsuccessful uprising against the king and lost. The castle then passed to the crown. ¹

1189

...

William Marshal and Chepstow Castle

In 1189 William Marshal married Isabel, the heiress of Earl Richard de Clare. Isabel's castles passed to William including Pembroke Castle. ¹

1245

...

Bigods take Chepstow Castle

When Maud, the last of the Marshal line, died in 1245 Chepstow Castle was passed to her son Roger Bigod II, Earl of Norfolk. ¹

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Selection of references used:

  • 1. Sidney Toy, Catles. Their Construction and History, 1985, ISBN:0-486-24898-4
  • 2. John Kinross, Discovering Castles in England and Wales

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    Location

    See Also

    People

    • Marshal, William (Earl of Pembroke)
    • Fitz Osbern, William (Earl of Hereford)
    • Fitz Osbern, Roger (Earl of Hereford)
    • Clare, Richard fitzGilbert de (Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke)
    • A .. Z List of Medieval People

    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

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