Llawhaden Castle
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Llawhaden_Castle_from_Drim_Wood_-_geograph.org.uk_-_915795.jpg/280px-Llawhaden_Castle_from_Drim_Wood_-_geograph.org.uk_-_915795.jpg)
Llawhaden Castle (Welsh: Castell Llanhuadain) (grid reference SN 073175) is a ruined castle in Llawhaden, Pembrokeshire, Wales, 10 miles (16 km) east of Haverfordwest.[1] A motte-and-bailey castle is thought to have previously occupied the site and the present structure was built by the bishops of the Diocese of St David in the 13th century. The castle was abandoned in the 16th century and some of the stone was removed for local building projects. The site is privately owned by the Lord of the Manor of Llawhaden and managed by Cadw.
Description
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Llawhaden.jpg/220px-Llawhaden.jpg)
The ruins of Llawhaden Castle stands on a hill overlooking the River Cleddau,[2][3] The remaining ruins date from the early 13th century. It is surrounded by a ditch, which was designed to be only crossable by a drawbridge.[2] The castle is pentagonal in shape and while the north-western and western sides of the castle are no longer present, the other three sides remain. The gatehouse is located on the southern side, which is formed of two drum towers and a gateway. This was also where the drawbridge would have been located to allow entrance to the interior of the castle.[4] The ruins are managed by Cadw, and are open to the public.[5]
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Impressive_remains_of_Llawhaden_Castle_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2501641.jpg/220px-Impressive_remains_of_Llawhaden_Castle_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2501641.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/83/Llawhaden_Castle_H2a.jpg/220px-Llawhaden_Castle_H2a.jpg)
Llawhaden and its hinterland were lands owned by the Bishopric of the Diocese of St David, since at least the later years of the realm of
The first Norman Bishop,
The building fell into decline under the control of Bishop
In 1930, George Lansbury, then First Commissioner of Works in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, organised a party of 1,300 previously unemployed men for six months to do renovation work on several castles. Llawhaden Castle was among those worked on, with several tasks undertaken including digging out moats and ditches, as well as removing ivy and undergrowth.[12]
Notes
- ^ Link to Cadw website on Llawhaden Castle Archived 14 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 17 January 2007.
- ^ a b c d Oman (1926): p. 211
- ISBN 978-0-7495-7743-8.
- ^ a b Oman (1926): p. 212
- ^ "Llawhaden Castle". Cadw. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ Judgement in Crown Estate Commissioners v (1) Mark Andrew Tudor Roberts (2) Trelleck Estate Ltd: ChD (Mr Justice Lewison), 13 June 2008
- ^ Francis Jones, The Lordship and Manors of Dewsland in Journal of the Historical Society of the Church in Wales, Volume 16, page 15
- ^ Rhys ap Gruffudd (1131/2-1197) The Lord Rhys, from the Dictionary of National Biography
- ^ Cadw information board outside the Castle.
- ^ "Llawhaden Castle". Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser. No. 16600. 20 January 1910. p. 10. Retrieved 5 April 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Hull, Lise. "Llawhaden Castle". Castles of Britain. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "Preserving Ancient Castles". Nottingham Evening Post. No. 16268. 21 August 1930. p. 5. Retrieved 5 April 2016 – via British Newspaper Archive.
References
- Oman, Charles (1926). Castles. London: The Great Western Railway.
External links
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