Why is Chepstow Castle so big?

Chepstow Castle is the oldest surviving post-Roman stone fortification in Britain. Situated in Monmouthshire in Wales on cliffs overlooking a bend in the tidal part of the River Wye, it was the southernmost of a chain of castles built in the Welsh Marches. Construction began in 1067 under the instruction of the Norman Lord William FitzOsbern. It was originally called Striguil, which means River Bend.

What’s in the Twin Towers of Cilgerran Castle?

A 13th-century ruined Norman Castle with a smashing view across the River Telfi in Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It’s all about the Round Towers here. Between around 1110–1115, Gerald of Windsor built a wooden palisade which was replaced at some point before the attack in 1165 by Rhys ap Gruffydd. He captured the castle and utterly destroyed it. He then began reconstruction using stone and lime mortar. The castle was recaptured by the English when William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, in 1204 when he drove out Rhy’s son, Maelgwn ap Rhys. Having captured the castle William Marshal began repairs but these proved futile when in 1215 Llywelyn the Great took the castle back into Welsh hands after just a single day of battle. In 1223 the castle was recaptured by Williams son William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, who began the construction of the castle in its present form. It remained in English hands until it was allowed to fall into ruin and was deserted by 1400.

Exploring The Beautiful Bronllys Castle

This Motte and Baily castle in Powys, Wales was founded c. 1110 by Richard Fitz Pons a marcher lord on the border with Wales. The original castle was built of wood but was replaced with a stone structure by Walter de Clifford sometime between 1144 and 1165 when it is reported that the tower caught fire.

Even though there are no ceilings or floors left, you can go right to the top of its tower, where there are some lovely views.

The Best Castle Location? – Llansteffan Castle

On a hill above the estuary of the River Towy in Carmarthenshire sits the magnificent Llansteffan Castle. It was built on the site of an older Iron Age Promontory Fort and has been in use for millennia, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s not only a highly defensible location, but affords some stunning views over the River Towy, and the village of Llansteffan itself. If you go to the top of the tower at the right time, you might even get to see a train in the distance.

Today, it’s all about location, and Llansteffan has got one of the best views of the sea we’ve seen from a castle. It isn’t actually the sea, it’s the estuary of the River Towy with the sea in the distance. Whatever it is, it’s beautiful.

The Biggest Castle in Wales – Caerphilly Castle

A medieval fortification built by Gilbert de Clare in the 13th century in the town of Caerphilly in South Wales. Loads of moats and lakes, it is said to have the most elaborate water defences in Britain. Occupying around 30 acres (12 hectares) it is the second-largest castle in the United Kingdom. One of its defining features is its leaning tower. The south-east tower in the Inner Ward leans outwards at an angle of 10 degrees.