Europe · United Kingdom · Pembrokeshire
Cilgerran Castle
The story
History of Cilgerran Castle
Cilgerran Castle (Welsh: Castell Cilgerran) is a 13th-century ruined castle located in Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales, near Cardigan.
United Kingdom · Pembrokeshire
- Built
- 13th century
- Era
- Medieval
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- Pembrokeshire
- UNESCO
- —
- Coordinates
- 52.057, -4.634
In depth
The fuller history
The initial Cilgerran Castle was built by Gerald of Windsor around 1110–1115, but was little more than a wooden palisade. This was replaced by a stone outer wall at some point prior to the attack by Rhys ap Gruffydd in 1165. Rhys had taken Cardigan Castle a matter of weeks before, and upon the capture of Cilgerran Castle, he destroyed it entirely. He began a reconstruction effort, using stone and lime mortar. In 1204, it was taken back for the English by William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, who drove out Rhys' son, Maelgwn ap Rhys.
Key dates
- 1223In the hands of William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, the construction of the stone castle began after 1223.
- 1400After passing through successive families, it was left to ruin and eventually abandoned by 1400.
- 1863The 19th century saw continued decline of the castle, the dry ditch bailey being converted into the village pound and the curtain wall of the bailey falling due to slate quarrying in the area in 1863.
- 2015It is open to the public under their auspices, and in 2015 it was the site of a re-enactment of the Battle of Agincourt to mark the 600th anniversary.
Historical summary drawn from Wikipedia. Read the full article.
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