Europe · United Kingdom · Swansea
Swansea Castle
The story
History of Swansea Castle
Swansea Castle (Welsh: Castell Abertawe) is located in the city centre of Swansea, Wales, UK. It was founded by Henry de Beaumont in 1107 as the caput of the lordship of Gower.
United Kingdom · Swansea
- Built
- 1107
- Era
- Medieval
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Swansea
- UNESCO
- —
- Coordinates
- 51.620, -3.941
In depth
The fuller history
Henry de Beaumont was granted the Lordship of Gower in 1106 and he began to solidify the control of the Normans in the area. A timber castle existed in Swansea in 1116, when it was recorded as being attacked by Welsh forces who destroyed the outer defences.
The original castle seems to have been a sub-rectangular/oval enclosure overlooking the River Tawe on the east, surrounded on the north, west and south sides by a larger sub-rectangular outer bailey. The inner bailey probably contained a motte but the other view is that it was a ring work. The motte (or ring work) was in diameter (only second in size to Cardiff Castle) and survived to the early 20th century.
The castle was besieged and captured in 1192 by Rhys ap Gruffydd, Prince of Deheubarth. Despite 10 weeks of starvation the castle was saved.
Key dates
- 1106Henry de Beaumont was granted the Lordship of Gower in 1106 and he began to solidify the control of the Normans in the area.
- 1116A timber castle existed in Swansea in 1116, when it was recorded as being attacked by Welsh forces who destroyed the outer defences.
- 1192The castle was besieged and captured in 1192 by Rhys ap Gruffydd, Prince of Deheubarth.
- 1221The castle was rebuilt in stone, probably between 1221 and 1284 (described now as the "New Castle"), firstly the inner castle with at least one tower, finally the large outer bailey.
- 1700By the 1670s the square tower was being used as a bottle factory and, in 1700, a town hall was built in the castle courtyard.
- 2012The castle was fenced off and only opened to the public on rare occasions, most recently for public tours in 2012 to coincide with St Davids Day.
Historical summary drawn from Wikipedia. Read the full article.
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