Cardigan Castle

Last updated

Cardigan Castle
Cardigan, Wales
Cardigan Castle - south western aspect-Geograph-6075948-by-M-J-Roscoe.jpg
Cardigan Castle
Wales location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Cardigan Castle
Coordinates 52°04′53″N4°39′38″W / 52.0815°N 4.6605°W / 52.0815; -4.6605
Grid reference grid reference SN17704594
Type Motte and bailey
Site information
OwnerCeredigion County Council
Open to
the public		Yes
ConditionRestored [1]
Site history
MaterialsStone
EventsSite of first Eisteddfod (1176) [2]
Listed Building – Grade I

Cardigan Castle (Welsh : Castell Aberteifi) is a castle overlooking the River Teifi in Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales. It is a Grade I listed building. [3] The castle dates from the late 11th-century, though was rebuilt in 1244. Castle Green House was built inside the castle walls in the early 1800s. After falling into disrepair the castle was restored in the early 2000s and opened to the public in 2015. It is owned by Ceredigion County Council and now includes a heritage centre and open-air concert facilities. The castle's gardens are listed on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.

Contents

History

Cardigan Castle, c. 1763-1770 Cardigan Castle (1128930).jpg
Cardigan Castle, c. 1763–1770

The first motte-and-bailey castle (ca.1093) was built a mile away from the present site, [4] probably about the time of the founding of the town by Roger de Montgomery, a Norman baron.

In 1110, King Henry I of England took Cardigan from Prince Owain ap Cadwgan as a punishment, and gave the Lordship of Cardigan and the castle to Gilbert Fitz Richard. [5] The forerunner of the present castle was built by Gilbert Lord of Clare after the former was destroyed.

The castle was handed down to Gilbert's son, Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke in 1136. The same year, Owain Gwynedd led the defeat of the Norman rulers in the town of Cardigan at the Battle of Crug Mawr. The town was taken and burnt, though the castle was successfully defended by Normans commanded by Robert fitz Martin.[ citation needed ]

The castle was later recaptured by the Normans, and was held for Earl Roger of Hertford. In 1166 it was captured by Rhys ap Gruffydd, who rebuilt it in stone in 1171. In 1176 the first recorded eisteddfod was held at the castle. [4]

After Rhys's death in 1197 his sons, Maelgwn and Gruffydd, disputed their inheritance resulting in Maelgwn surrendering Gruffydd to the Normans and selling the castle to King John. The castle was later held for William Marshall.[ citation needed ]

Llywelyn the Great captured it in 1215 [4] and at the parliament held at Aberdyfi in 1216 made it over to the sons of Gruffydd ap Rhys of Deheubarth, but in 1223 William Marshall the Younger recaptured it. In 1231 the castle was again captured for Llywelyn by Rhys Gryg and his allies. Llywelyn held it until his death in 1240. On Llywelyn's death it fell back into Norman hands, and in 1244 Earl Gilbert of Pembroke rebuilt it with town walls for added protection. It is the remains of this building that still stands overlooking the river.

It was badly damaged during the English Civil War in Wales and until the 18th century it was only used as a prison.[ citation needed ]

Castle Green House Castle Green House (36875605545).jpg
Castle Green House

Sometime between 1805 and 1808 the castle owner, John Bowen, arranged the construction of Castle Green House within the castle walls. The front range was added in 1827. [4]

In 1940 the castle and house was bought by a shipping magnate [6] His daughter, Barbara Wood, and her mother moved into Castle Green House but this slowly fell into disrepair [7] and was allowed to decay further by the owner to the extent that the outer castle walls needed supporting. Miss Wood continued to occupy the castle for almost 60 years, despite attempts by the local authority to take over the castle in 1971 [6] and Castle Green House being declared unfit for human habitation in 1984. [7]

21st century

Miss Wood, the castle's last occupant, finally left the castle in 1996 to be cared for in a nursing home. [7] Faced with six years of nursing costs, she put the castle up for private sale in 2001. [8] The castle was purchased by Ceredigion County Council in April 2003 and repairs began as part of the regeneration of Cardigan. In 2004 Castle Green House appeared on the BBC's second series of Restoration, presented by Griff Rhys Jones. [9] : 148–155 

Renovation work continued for some years after its purchase by the Council, [10] and the castle was opened to the public on 15 April 2015 [11] with a concert held in July 2015. [12] The new facilities include bed-and-breakfast and self-catering accommodation, a heritage centre with education facilities, a restaurant (named "1176" in reference to Lord Rhys's eisteddfod in that year), [13] an events and open-air concert area, and rooms for hire for classes. [14] The castle's grounds, set within the ward and including pleasure gardens and a kitchen garden, are designated Grade II on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales. [15]

Further reading

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhys ap Gruffydd</span> Prince of Deheubarth

Rhys ap Gruffydd or ap Gruffudd was the ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south Wales from 1155 to 1197. Today, he is commonly known as The Lord Rhys, in Welsh Yr Arglwydd Rhys, although this title may have not been used in his lifetime. He usually used the title "Proprietary Prince of Deheubarth" or "Prince of South Wales", but two documents have been discovered in which he uses the title "Prince of Wales" or "Prince of the Welsh". Rhys was one of the most successful and powerful Welsh princes, and, after the death of Owain Gwynedd of Gwynedd in 1170, the dominant power in Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owain Gwynedd</span> King of Gwynedd

Owain ap Gruffudd was King of Gwynedd, North Wales, from 1137 until his death in 1170, succeeding his father Gruffudd ap Cynan. He was called Owain the Great and the first to be styled "Prince of Wales", and the "Prince of the Welsh". He is considered to be the most successful of all the North Welsh princes prior to his grandson, Llywelyn the Great. He became known as Owain Gwynedd to distinguish him from the contemporary king of Powys Wenwynwyn, Owain ap Gruffydd ap Maredudd, who became known as Owain Cyfeiliog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gwenwynwyn</span> King of Powys

Gwenwynwyn ab Owain Cyfeiliog was the last major ruler of mid Wales before the completion of the Norman English invasion. He was one of few native rulers to represent a real threat to the rule of Llywelyn the Great.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Gwynedd</span> Kingdom in northwest Wales, 401–1283

The Kingdom of Gwynedd was a Welsh kingdom and a Roman Empire successor state that emerged in sub-Roman Britain in the 5th century during the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cardigan, Ceredigion</span> Human settlement in Wales

Cardigan is both a town and a community in the county of Ceredigion, Wales. Positioned on the tidal reach of the River Teifi at the point where Ceredigion meets Pembrokeshire, Cardigan was the county town of the historic county of Cardiganshire. Cardigan is the second-largest town in Ceredigion. The largest town, Aberystwyth, is one of the two administrative centres; the other is Aberaeron.

Nest ferch Rhys was the daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, last King of Deheubarth in Wales, by his wife, Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn of Powys. Her family is of the House of Dinefwr. Nest was the wife of Gerald de Windsor, Constable of Pembroke Castle and son of the Constable of Windsor Castle in Berkshire, by whom she was the ancestress of the FitzGerald dynasty.

The Castle of Dinerth is a Welsh castle located near Aberarth, Ceredigion, west Wales that was completed c. AD 1110. It is also known as Hero Castle, presumably from the Norse hiro.

Gruffydd ap Rhys was Prince of Deheubarth, in Wales. His sister was the Princess Nest ferch Rhys. He was the father of Rhys ap Gruffydd, known as 'The Lord Rhys', who was one of the most successful rulers of Deheubarth during this period.

Maelgwn ap Rhys was prince of part of the kingdom of Deheubarth in south west Wales.

Cadell ap Gruffydd was prince of the Kingdom of Deheubarth in Southwest Wales.

Gruffydd ap Rhys II was a prince of Deheubarth in south-west Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhys Gryg</span>

Rhys Gryg, real name Rhys ap Rhys, also known as Rhys Fychan, was a Welsh prince who ruled part of the Kingdom of Deheubarth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kidwelly Castle</span> Norman castle in Wales

Kidwelly Castle is a Norman castle overlooking the River Gwendraeth and the town of Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laugharne Castle</span> Building in Carmarthenshire, Wales

Laugharne Castle is in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire, Wales. The castle, located on the estuary of the River Tâf, was originally established in 1116. It was rebuilt as a Norman stronghold. There have been many alterations since then, including becoming a Tudor fortified manor house in the sixteenth century. It changed hands twice during the English Civil War, being eventually captured by Parliamentary forces in 1644.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Dinefwr</span> Welsh royal family

The Royal House of Dinefwr was a cadet branch of the Royal House of Gwynedd, founded by King Cadell ap Rhodri, son of Rhodri the Great. Their ancestor, Cunedda Wledig, born in late Roman Britain, was a Sub-Roman warlord who founded the Kingdom of Gwynedd during the 5th century, following the Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain. As Celtic Britons, the House of Dinefwr was ruling before the Norman conquest, having to fight with their neighbors such as the Celtics, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, before struggling with the Normans afterwards. Many members of this family were influential in Welsh history, such as Hywel Dda, who codified Welsh law under his rule, and achieved the important title of King of the Britons, or Lord Rhys, Prince of Wales, who rebelled against Richard the Lionheart, and became one of the most powerful Welsh leaders of the Middle ages.

This article is about the particular significance of the century 1101–1200 to Wales and its people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wales in the High Middle Ages</span> Aspect of Welsh history (1000–1300)

Wales in the High Middle Ages covers the 11th to 13th centuries in Welsh history. Beginning shortly before the Norman invasion of the 1060s and ending with the Conquest of Wales by Edward I between 1278 and 1283, it was a period of significant political, cultural and social change for the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Gwynedd during the High Middle Ages</span>

The history of Gwynedd in the High Middle Ages is a period in the History of Wales spanning the 11th through the 13th centuries. Gwynedd, located in the north of Wales, eventually became the most dominant of Welsh polities during this period. Contact with continental courts allowed for Gwynedd to transition from a petty kingdom into an increasingly sophisticated principality of seasoned courtiers capable of high level deplomacy and representation; not only with the Angevine kings, but also the king of France and the Papal See. Distinctive achievements in Gwynedd include further development of Medieval Welsh literature, particularly poets known as the Beirdd y Tywysogion associated with the court of Gwynedd; the reformation of bardic schools; and the continued development of Cyfraith Hywel. All three of these further contributed to the development of a Welsh national identity in the face of Anglo-Norman encroachment of Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle Green House</span> House in Cardigan, Wales

Castle Green House is a Grade II* listed house located in the grounds of Cardigan Castle, Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales. It was restored in the 2000s and now acts as a museum, events centre and residential accommodation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1176 Cardigan eisteddfod</span>

The 1176 Cardigan eisteddfod, as it is commonly described, was a cultural tournament involving bards and musicians, held in the grounds of Cardigan Castle, Cardigan, West Wales, by the Lord Rhys ap Gruffydd. Though the term eisteddfod was not commonly used until several centuries later, the 1176 gathering is commonly claimed to be the earliest recorded forerunner of the modern national eisteddfod event.

References

  1. ↑ Murray, Matt (14 April 2015). "Cardigan Castle reopens following £12m restoration project". bbc.co.uk. BBC News. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "The first eisteddfod ". discoverceredigion.co.uk. Ceredigion County Council. 2015. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  3. ↑ Cadw. "Cardigan Castle (Grade I) (10458)". National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "History". Cardigancastle.com. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  5. ↑ Welsh princes and Ceredigion castles, Ceredigion County Council
  6. 1 2 Madigan, Nick (4 January 2003). "The Poor Woman Is Gone And Her Castle's Besieged". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 "Cardigan Castle chapter closes with death of last private owner". Tivy-Side Advertiser. 13 February 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  8. ↑ Lewis, Mike (9 March 2002). "Trash or a national treasure?". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  9. ↑ Wilkinson, Philip (2004). Restoration – the story continues ... London: English Heritage. ISBN   1-85074-914-0.
  10. ↑ "Restoration works start inside Cardigan Castle". Tivy-Side Advertiser. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  11. ↑ Steven Morris (14 April 2015). "Cardigan Castle to reopen after £12m restoration". No. The Guardian. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  12. ↑ "Festival favourites Bellowhead to headline Cardigan Castle opening concert". Tivyside Advertiser. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  13. ↑ Steve Adams (19 December 2016). "Staff at Cardigan Castle's 1176 restaurant round off hectic year with busy Christmas period". Tivy-side Advertiser. Retrieved 9 February 2019.
  14. ↑ "Cardigan Castle home page". Cardigan Castle. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  15. ↑ Cadw. "Cardigan Castle (PGW(Dy)72(CER))". National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 14 February 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.