Caergwrle Castle
| Caergwrle Castle | |
|---|---|
| Caergwrle, Flintshire in Wales | |
 Ruins of Caergwrle Castle with town of Caergwrle below | |
  Caergwrle Castle | |
| Coordinates | 53°06′26″N 3°02′14″W / 53.107290°N 3.037164°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruins remaining. |
| Site history | |
| Built | Approx 1277 |
| Materials | Stone |
| Fate | Destroyed following fire. |
Caergwrle Castle (Welsh: Castell Caergwrle), also known as Queen's Hope in scholarly texts, is located in the town of Caergwrle, in Flintshire, Wales. It was built by the Welsh under Dafydd ap Gruffydd in service to Edward I of England. When Dafydd's forces rebelled against the English, Edward sent Reginald de Grey, 1st Baron Grey de Wilton to take the castle in June 1282, but Dafydd had retreated and sabotaged the structure. Rebuilding works began, and it was given to Edward's wife, Eleanor of Castile. A town was planned at the base of the castle, but this was abandoned after a fire broke out in September 1283 when both Edward and Eleanor were present. It was passed down the royal line, but was never rebuilt. In 1823, a workman discovered the Caergwrle Bowl near the castle; it is a unique Bronze Age bowl.
Description
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Built on the south west corner of a steep hill near the Anglo-Welsh border, Caergwrle Castle has views which extend far into Cheshire.[1] The foundations are made up of gritstone, locally quarried from Caergwrle hill,[2] north west of the castle.[3] There are two styles which appear in the masonry, with the most elaborate work taking place near the residential areas of the castle and on the exterior portions. During use the interior walls would have been plaster-covered, obscuring any masonry and therefore making detailed work unnecessary.[2]
The west curtain wall is no longer present, nor is the majority of the south tower. The crag under which the south tower would have partially stood is missing, which may have been an indication of quarrying close to the castle itself. The hilltop was known for being used as a quarry for the construction of millstones during the 17th century. Following the destruction of the castle, looting took place. This resulted in several of the remaining walls missing large stones illustrating this taking place on an individual basis, as well as large sections of the castle entirely missing indicates that this would have taken place on an industrial scale.[4] Historians suspect that the west wall and majority of the south tower was removed through those means, as it would have been easier to take apart and roll down the steep hill than other parts of the castle.[5]
History
Prior to current castle, of which ruins remain, there is thought to have been a hill fort at the site dating from either the late Roman/post Roman period.
The first reference to the castle appears in the rolls of the Royal Wardrobe, referencing that Edward had sent 100 marks to Dafydd on 12 November 1278 towards the castle; however, there is debate between scholars whether this was to aid the initial construction or to help in the upkeep of an already extant building.[9] Notable features included two D-shaped towers and a great circular keep overlooking the approach to the south-east. It has been speculated that Dafydd employed English masons to work on the castle, which was apparently unfinished when Dafydd revolted in 1282. Edward gathered an army to invade Wales in June.[7] He sent Reginald de Grey, 1st Baron Grey de Wilton to take Caergwrle Castle. When forces under his command arrived on 16 June, they discovered Dafydd had already retreated and abandoned the location.[9]
The Welsh had slighted the castle, even blocking up its well.[7] Over the following fourteen weeks, Reginald set about restoring the castle. He left detailed notes on this venture, showing that it cost £1466 4s. 51⁄2d. Edward himself was thought to have been present for a couple of days prior to 6 July to instruct the architect James of Saint George in the reconstruction efforts. More than 340 carpenters and over 600 diggers were employed in the repair effort. A further 30 to 35 stonemasons worked on Caergwrle Castle each week from June through to November. A number of wooden buildings are referring to as having been constructed at this point, including a chapel, a bakehouse and several offices for clerks.[10]
Edward gave Caergwrle Castle to his wife,
The Bronze Age Caergwrle Bowl was discovered by a workman digging a drain in the fields below the castle in 1823. It is made of shale, tin and gold in a unique configuration.[6] Excavations took place at the castle in three phases between 1988 and 1990. They were concentrated on investigating the ground within the walls and the three surviving towers.[11] Today, the castle's ruins are cared for by Caergwrle Community Council.[1] They are a Grade I listed structure.[12]
Notes
- ^ a b "Caergwrle Castle and the Bronze Age Caergwrle Bowl". BBC News. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
- ^ a b c Manley (1994): p. 89
- ^ Manley (1994): p. 90
- ^ Manley (1994): p. 92
- ^ Manley (1994): p. 93
- ^ a b "Caergwrle Castle and the Bronze Age Caergwrle Bowl". BBC North East Wales. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d King (1974): pp. 113–139
- ^ Manley (1994): p. 85
- ^ a b Manley (1994): p. 86
- ^ Manley (1994): p. 88
- ^ Manley (1994): p. 83
- ^ "Caergwrle Castle, Hope". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
References
- King, D. J. Cathcart (1974), "Two Castles in Northern Powys: Dinas Bran and Caergwrle", Archaeologia Cambrensis, 123
- Manley, John (1994), "Excavations at Caergwrle Castle, Clwyd, North Wales: 1988–1990" (PDF), Medieval Archaeology, 38
External links
Media related to Caergwrle Castle at Wikimedia Commons
| Built by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth | .jpg) | |
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| Other stone castles |
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| Earthwork castles |
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| Royal llysoedd | ||
