Castell y Bere

Coordinates: 52°39′29″N 3°58′17″W / 52.65818°N 3.9715°W / 52.65818; -3.9715
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Castell y Bere
Welsh Wars
Prince Madoc's Rebellion

Castell y Bere is a

a major revolt and the castle was besieged and apparently burnt. Edward did not repair it and it became ruined. Today it is in the hands of Cadw and operated as a tourist attraction
.

History

1220–40

Castell y Bere was built in the 1220s by Llywelyn the Great on a rocky

Normans had advanced into Wales, taking lands in the north and establishing a band of occupied territory in the south called the Welsh Marches. During the 12th century some timber and earthwork castles began to be built, but in small numbers.[3]

Aerial view of the castle

Llywelyn the Great initially controlled the princedom of Gwynedd, but grew more powerful over the course of his reign, extending his influence over much of Wales during the early years of the 13th century.[4] Llywelyn was faced by several challenges, including dealing with the threat from the kings of England, and maintaining his authority over the native Welsh.[5]

In 1221 Llywelyn took control of neighbouring

Dysynni Valley near Cadair Idris.[7]

1240–1300

Castell y Bere, rock

Following Llywelyn's death in 1240, Gwynedd's power declined and many of its eastern lands were taken by Henry III of England in 1247.[8] Llywelyn's grandson, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, took power in 1255 and imprisoned his brother Owain ap Gruffudd before extending his power across Wales.[8] Llywelyn extended the castle with an additional tower to the south, similar to that built at Dolforwyn, probably in order to provide additional accommodation.[9][nb 1]

Looking south-west across the castle

The conflict between the Welsh princes and the English kings continued in the reign of

carpenters, under the command of Master Bertram the Engineer, were left at Castell y Bere "to carry out various works" after the English army had left.[12] The precise nature of these works are unknown,[13] but historian A. J. Taylor interprets them as being repairs to the castle following the siege.[14]

Edward continued to invest money and time in Castell y Bere; he visited three times in 1284, establishing a small town alongside the castle, possibly just to the east.[15] Reflecting the anti-Semitic attitudes of Edward, the 1284 town charter stated that "Jews shall not sojourn in the borough at any time".[16] Walter of Huntercombe was appointed the constable of the castle by Edward in 1284 and spent £47 building a new chamber there, potentially for the king to use during visits.[15][nb 2] Another £262 was spent between 1286 and 1290, most of this in the year following the revolt of Rhys ap Maredudd.[15] A pair of linking walls to the south tower was probably built around this time, and the external barbican and gate towers may also have been built at this time.[18]

In 1294, however, the Welsh leader

Richard Fitzalan, the Earl of Arundel, was ordered in mid-October to ensure that the castle was secure, but by late October the castle was under siege from Madoc's forces.[19] Robert FitzWalter, the castle's constable, was sent to lead a relief expedition.[19] The final fate of Castell y Bere is uncertain, but it was probably taken by Welsh forces in late 1294 and subsequently burnt.[20]

14th–21st century

Following the revolt Castell y Bere and the new English town were both abandoned.

Gruffydd Hiraethog observed that "on the banks of the river Dysynni is Castell-y-Bere, where stood a large strong building but which is now destroyed and cast to the ground".[23]

After many years, the site was finally cleared of undergrowth in the 1850s, revealing more of the castle's remains, and William Wynne, the owner of the site, carried out the first archaeological investigations.[24] In 1949 Charles Corbett, the last private owner of the ruins, placed them into the guardianship of the state.[25] In the 21st century the site is in the care of Cadw and is protected as a scheduled monument and maintained as a tourist attraction. In the light of Welsh devolution and other political changes, the history of Castell y Bere and similar Welsh castles has become increasingly prominent. In response, Cadw have noted that they intend to give an increased priority to communicating the history of these castles and the Welsh princes.[26]

Architecture

Plan of the castle: A – south tower; B – ditch yard; C – middle tower; D – barbican; E – round tower; F – courtyard; G – north tower
Carved stonework from the castle, now on display at Criccieth Castle

Today the ruins of Castell y Bere still stand on a rocky outcrop, with protective ditches cut into the stone on the south and east sides.[27] The entrance to the castle lies on the west side, where the barbican, probably built by Edward I, contains two gatetowers, overlooking the stone steps approaching the inner gate.[27] Through the barbican is the castle courtyard, containing a large well and the remains of several internal buildings of uncertain date.[28]

The north tower is an apsidal, or "D-shaped", design that is characteristic of Welsh castles of the early 13th century.[28] Originally it may have contained either a hall or a chapel.[29] What is today the middle tower was originally the southernmost part of the defences, but now leads through the Edwardian ditch yard to the south tower, another apsidal design that once contained spacious accommodation.[30] Both the apsidal towers lacked fireplaces in the main chambers, instead using central heaths to heat the rooms.[31]

Unusually for an early Welsh castle, there is evidence of decorative sculpture, including statues of soldiers, having been built into the castle, along with decorative floor tiles. Castell y Bere is the only castle, other than Criccieth, to display such features.[32] Historian Lawrence Butler considers that the castle has delivered some of "some of the finest stone carving from thirteenth-century Wales".[33]

Cultural references

  • Castell y Bere was visited by legendary rock singers
    Life on the Road series. The Castle is not far from Bron-Yr-Aur
    .

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Earlier dating of the south tower has been less certain; Richard Avent, for example, previously considered that Llywelyn the Great, rather than his grandson, might have built this tower.[7]
  2. ^ It is impossible to accurately compare 13th century and modern prices or incomes. For comparison, the average annual income of a baron of the period was approximately £668.[17]

References

  1. ^ Avent, p. 12.
  2. ^ Avent, p. 3.
  3. ^ Avent, p. 4.
  4. ^ Avent, p. 6.
  5. ^ Avent, p. 7.
  6. ^ Avent, p. 8; Butler, p. 31.
  7. ^ a b Avent, p. 8.
  8. ^ a b Avent, p. 14.
  9. ^ Butler, p. 32.
  10. ^ a b c Avent, p. 16.
  11. ^ Taylor, pp. 62, 76.
  12. ^ Taylor, p. 76, quoting manuscript C 47/2/2
  13. ^ Avent, p. 19
  14. ^ Taylor, pp. 76, 127
  15. ^ a b c d Avent, p. 19.
  16. ^ Hillaby & Hillaby 2013, p. 143.
  17. ^ Pounds, p. 147.
  18. ^ Avent, pp. 8–9.
  19. ^ a b Avent, p. 19; Taylor, p. 76.
  20. ^ Avent, p. 19; Taylor, p. 77.
  21. ^ Avent, p. 20.
  22. ^ Pounds, p. 173.
  23. ^ Butler & Dunning, p. 79.
  24. ^ Wynne, pp. 105–108; Butler & Dunning, p. 80.
  25. ^ Avent, p. 21.
  26. ^ Jones, pp. 200–201.
  27. ^ a b Avent, p. 37.
  28. ^ a b Avent, p. 38.
  29. ^ Avent, p.39.
  30. ^ Avent, pp.39-40.
  31. ^ Avent, p. 40.
  32. ^ Davis, p. 43; Butler, p. 32.
  33. ^ Butler, p. 35.

Bibliography

External links
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