he remains of a stone castle can be visited on a outcrop of rock next to the harbour of Tenby in South Wales. The castle was built by the Normans during the first half of the twelfth century and was attacked several times by the Welsh in 1156, 1187 and 1260 when Llywelyn ap Gruffudd attacked the town. Walls for the town were built to help prevent further attacks. During the Eglish Civil War the town declared its support for King Charles before being captured by Parliamentarian forces. Sections of the town walls also survive.Locations
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Locations of lesser places
The locations listed on this page currently have less information so do not warrant a page of their own. As this website evolves and more information is added these locations will be promoted to individual pages.
Tenby Castle
he remains of a stone castle can be visited on a outcrop of rock next to the harbour of Tenby in South Wales. The castle was built by the Normans during the first half of the twelfth century and was attacked several times by the Welsh in 1156, 1187 and 1260 when Llywelyn ap Gruffudd attacked the town. Walls for the town were built to help prevent further attacks. During the Eglish Civil War the town declared its support for King Charles before being captured by Parliamentarian forces. Sections of the town walls also survive.| County | Pembrokeshire, Wales (12 castles) | Categories | Stone |
| Remains | Small amount survives | Access | Only open at certain times |
| Location | 51.672481,-4.694684 (Google Maps) ///starch.cabbages.emporium | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
Stone |
| Remains |
Small amount survives |
| Access |
Only open at certain times |
| Location |
| 51.672481,-4.694684 ///starch.cabbages.emporium |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Location Map (click to explore)
Timeline
1260
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the 'Prince of Wales' rose up against the English and attacked the castle at Tenby. He also laid siege to Builth Wells Castle with siege engines.
Tintagel Castle
ocated on the cliffs of the coast of Cornwall this castle has been used at least since the Dark Ages as a defensive site. The castle is supposed to have belonged to the legendary King Arthur. The site is almost an island, protected on three sides by the steep cliffs and on the fourth by a deep crevasse where it joins the mainland. Richard, Earl of Cornwall, the brother of King Henry III, is responsible for parts of its construction during the medieval ages. Sections of the castle were built both on the mainland and on the island. Large halls were built rather than a keep as would normally be expected in Norman times.| County | Cornwall (7 castles) | Categories | Pre Medieval |
| Remains | Earthworks only | Access | Only open at certain times |
| Comments | Although most of the remains at Tintagel Castle are at ground level there is still much to explore and the setting for the castle is spectacular. | ||
| Location | 50.66694,-4.7575 (Google Maps) ///mull.insulated.repaying | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
Pre Medieval |
| Remains |
Earthworks only |
| Access |
Only open at certain times |
| Comments |
Although most of the remains at Tintagel Castle are at ground level there is still much to explore and the setting for the castle is spectacular. |
| Location |
| 50.66694,-4.7575 ///mull.insulated.repaying |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Tomen Castle
emains of a stone keep on top of a small mound very close to its successor stone castle at Dolwyddelan. Tomen Castle is supposed to be the birth place of Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, (the Great), Trees and undergrowth now cover the mound and what stone remains that are left.| County | Conwy, Wales (6 castles) | Categories | Stone / Baronial castle |
| Remains | Small amount survives | Access | No Access - Private |
| Comments | Appears to be on private land. | ||
| Location | 53.051539,-3.903762 (Google Maps) | Directions | N/A |
| County |
| Categories |
Stone / Baronial castle |
| Remains |
Small amount survives |
| Access |
No Access - Private |
| Comments |
Appears to be on private land. |
| Location |
| 53.051539,-3.903762 |
| Directions |
| N/A |
Tretower Castle
he original motte and bailey castle was built by a Norman called Picard after the Conquest. Early modifications in around 1160 included a stone shell keep and in around 1220 a round stone tower was added to the keep. Later in the castle's history a fortified manor house was built on the site and the owners let the older castle fall into disrepair.| County | Powys, Wales (11 castles) | Categories | Motte & Bailey / Stone / Fortified Manor House / Baronial castle |
| Remains | Small amount survives | Access | Only open at certain times |
| Comments | The tower of Tretower Castle can be seen from the A40. | ||
| Location | 51.88337,-3.186941 (Google Maps) | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
| Categories |
Motte & Bailey / Stone / Fortified Manor House / Baronial castle |
| Remains |
Small amount survives |
| Access |
Only open at certain times |
| Comments |
The tower of Tretower Castle can be seen from the A40. |
| Location |
| 51.88337,-3.186941 |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Trim Castle
rim Castle, County Meath, Ireland, is a Norman castle whose construction was started in around 1172 by Hugh de Lacy. King Henry II granted the land on which the castle is built to de Lacy, a Norman knight.| County | TBC | Categories | TBC |
| Remains | TBC | Access | TBC - Please check before visiting |
| Location | 53.55378,-6.79037 (Google Maps) | Directions | Directions via Google Maps |
| County |
TBC |
| Categories |
TBC |
| Remains |
TBC |
| Access |
TBC - Please check before visiting |
| Location |
| 53.55378,-6.79037 |
| Directions |
| Directions via Google Maps |
Selection of references used:
- 1: Ministry of Works Official Guide Book, Orford Castle
- 2: E.B.D'Auvergne, The English Castles, 1926, T.Werner Laurie Ltd. (1926)
A Medieval Mystery
There appear to be some strange connections between the fourteenth century Old Wardour Castle and ancient stone circle Stonehenge.
1: Location
Old Wardour Castle appears to be aligned to ancient sites in the Stonehenge landscape.
2: Alignment
Stonehenge is aligned to the Summer Solstice. Old Wardour has a very similar alignment.
3: Size
Could the builders of Old Wardour used mesaurements from Stonehenge to layout the geometrical keep?
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