Norman Castles
Caernarfon
Caernarfon is probably the best known castle in North Wales. Situated on the banks of the Menai Straits, on the site of the Welsh settlement of Caer-yn-Arfon, the castle and it's walls dominate the town.
This was King Edward's most expensive castle and took almost fifty years to build. It has polygonal towers with colour banded masonry and eagle crowned turrets. Building was started in 1283 following the Edwardian Conquest. Edward I son, Edward, was born here in 1284, the king later invested him with the title Prince Of Wales, although the investiture was carried out in Lincoln. The title Prince Of Wales is now bestowed on the British monarch's eldest son, although it wasn't until 1911 that the investiture took place at the castle. In 1969 Queen Elizabeth II invested Prince Charles as Prince of Wales in a ceremony at Caernarfon.
As the castle was being built, walls were also erected around the new town. English settlers were encouraged to move here, but the Welsh were not permitted to live within the walls or bear arms while visiting. In 1294 the Welsh rose up in rebellion, forcing the English to flee and tearing down some of the walls. The English though soon returned, the uprising was crushed and the walls were partially rebuilt. Building work on the castle and town ceased in 1330 although all the work wasn't complete.
Caernarfon castle is in relatively good condition and most of its towers and walls can still be climbed. There are exhibitions in the towers (including the Royal Welch Fusiliers regimental museum in the Queen's Tower) and a gift shop. The castle is a World Heritage Listed Site, in the care of Cadw and open all year round.
Conwy
Conwy castle was built between 1283 and 1287 by James of St. George for Edward I, to secure the crossing of the river Conwy, an important route into Gwynedd. It is situated on the site of Aberconwy Abbey, where the princes of Gwynedd had been buried. The Abbey was moved to Maenan, about 5 miles away, where part of it can still be seen at the church of St. Mary.
The castle has 8 towers, the main entrance was originally via a drawbridge at the town end. The king had private quarters within the inner ward, these could be cut off from the outer ward should the castle be attacked. The inner ward had 4 towers with an ornate chapel in the north east tower and a 125 feet long Great Hall. Three quarters of a mile of walls were built around the town with 21 towers and 3 gates.
In 1401, during the rebellion of Owain Glyndwr, Conwy was captured and burnt. In the English civil war, John Williams, who was born in Conwy, was the Archbishop of York and a Royalist. He fled to Conwy in 1646 and the Parliament forces laid siege to the castle and town. It held out until the Archbishop changed his allegiance and joined in the siege. After its capture the castle was given to the Earl of Conwy, who stripped it of it's iron, timber and lead, which he sent to his lands in Ireland, the ship carrying it though was wrecked.
The castle and the town walls are now in the care of Cadw.
Rhuddlan
In 1063 Gruffydd ap Llywelyn held court at a castle in Rhuddlan but was driven out by King Edward the Confessor's army, led by Harold Godwineson. After King Harold was defeated at Hastings by William the Conqueror the castle returned for a while to Welsh hands. In 1073 Robert of Rhuddlan built a Norman castle here, with mainly wooden defences, on a site near to the present castle. Over the following years this castle changed hands between Welsh and Norman many times. In November 1277, Edward I accepted Llywelyn ap Gruffydd's surrender there.
The present castle is situated to the north west of the original. Building was started in 1277 by Edward and continued until 1282. Edward also founded a new borough to the north of the castle, away from the earlier town. Rhuddlan Castle guards a ford across the River Clwyd and was the strongest of the Norman castles built in North Wales. A deep water channel, almost 3 miles long, was built to link the castle to the sea, allowing supplies to be brought in by ship - ensuring that the garrison could not be starved into submission.
The castle was attacked by the Welsh in 1294 and again during the rebellion of Owain Glyndwr in 1400, when the town was badly damaged - the castle though held out. During the English civil war Rhuddlan was in Royalist hands, but surrendered in 1646. In 1648 it was partly destroyed to prevent it being used again as a stronghold.
The castle is in the care of Cadw.
Harlech
Built between 1283 and 1290 by Edward I and designed by James of St. George, Harlech castle is situated above Tremadog Bay. Naturally protected by cliffs on three sides and by concentric lines of fortifications on the fourth. Even if attackers should reach the gatehouse, it had its own complex of gates, portcullises and loopholes. Because if its defences it was supposedly impregnable and a garrison was thought to be able to hold out against thousands of besiegers.
Harlech was the final refuge of Owain Glyndwr and his followers. It was also the last loyalist stronghold of the English Civil War when it was used as a refuge of the Welsh Lancastrians - these were the "Men Of Harlech".
The castle is still fairly intact and is a World Heritage Listed Site in the care of Cadw.
Beaumaris
Were Beaumaris castle stands today was originally the small Welsh settlement of Llanfaes, which Edward I moved along the coast to Newborough. It was also the site of the Menai ferry crossing.
Building started in 1295, following a Welsh uprising on Ynys Mon. It was the final link in the chain of coastal fortresses built by Edward I to control the Welsh.
Beaumaris is one of the most technically perfect castles in Britain. It has a symmetrical design, defended by four successive and concentric lines of fortifications, with a sixteen towered outer defence and six towers and two gatehouses in the inner ward. The inner walls were originally 43 feet high and 16 feet thick. The huge moat surrounding the castle is 18 feet wide and was dug by 2000 men. It had a tidal dock to allow the castle to be supplied by sea - there is an iron ring in the castle wall were ships of up to 40 tons tied up. Work on the castle ceased after 30 years, although building was not complete.
The castle is in some disrepair and when I last visited about 3 years ago, you couldn't climb the towers or walk the walls. Beaumaris is still worth a visit though. The views of the mainland from the castle and the town are wonderful. The castle is in the care of Cadw.
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