Aberedw Castle

Infobox Military Structure
name=Aberedw Castle
partof=
location= Powys, Wales
coordinates=


caption=
type= Castle
code=
built= 1093
builder=
materials=
height=
used=
demolished= Partially demolished in the 19th century
condition= Ruined
ownership=
controlledby=
garrison=
commanders=
occupants=
battles=
events=

The remains of the Aberedw Castle, also known as 'Castle in Elfael Uwch Mynydd'cite web
url=http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/Welshsites/827.html
title=Aberedw Castle
publisher=The Gatehouse
author=Philip Davis
date=2007-01-20
accessdate=2007-05-03] , are located in the small village Aberedw located in Powys, mid-Wales.

History

The castle was signed to Walter Heckelutel, as a License of the Crenellate, by King Edward I of England on November 24, 1284. This license of crenellate was thought of as a way for central authority to exert power over the lords, although this is not confirmed. [cite web
url=http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/LtoCren.html
title=English Licences to Crenallate Some Analysis
publisher=The Gatehouse
date=2007-01-20
accessdate=2007-05-03] It is also suggested however, that the castle, is thought to date back to 1093 when the Normans invaded South Wales. [cite web
url=http://www.fforestfields.co.uk/information/about_us.htm
title=Fforest Fields
publisher=Fforestfields.Co.Uk
date=2006-08-03
accessdate=2007-02-14]

At the time of the construction of Aberedw, castles were built for a certain symbolism. The license to crennellate showed a symbolic power for central authority. This castle also has a different symbolism to the people of Wales. Aberedw is more famously known to be the residence of Llewelyn ap Gruffydd. This man is very well known as the last native Prince of Wales. Aberedw was the last retreat Llewelyn made before he was killed and beheaded by Adam Francton, who then had his head sent to the King of England, in 1282. [cite web
url=http://digital.lib.ucdavis.edu/projects/bwrp/Works/BoweMYstra.htm
title=British Women Romantic Poets Project
author=Melesina Bowen
publisher=University of California
year=2003
accessdate=2007-05-03]

It was a rectangular stone castle with circular towers,cite web
url=http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/key.html
title=Site Types in the Listings
publisher=The Gatehouse
author=Philip Davis
date=2007-01-20
accessdate=2007-05-03] surrounded by a moat approximately 10 to 20 meters wide. Today it is a ruin, as it was destroyed by railway construction in the 19th century. The stones of the castle were used in constructing the track. [cite web
url=http://www.castles-of-britain.com/castlepu.htm
title=Castle Preservation: Vanished Castles
author=Marvin Hull
publisher=Castles Unlimited
accessdate=2007-05-03]

References

External links

* [http://www.castlewales.com/aberedw.html Aberedw Castles (I & II)] and [http://www.castlewales.com/aberedw1.html Additional Photographs] by Jeffrey L. Thomas.
* [http://www.castles99.ukprint.com/Essays/aberedw.html Aberedw Castles] by Paul Remfry.