Cardigan Castle

Cardigan Castle

Cardigan Castle (ca. 1100) is a castle located in Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales.

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

The forerunner of the present castle was built by Gilbert Fitz Richard 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.

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 ever National Eisteddfod of Wales was held at the castle. On 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.

Llywelyn the Great captured it in 1215 and at the parliament held at Aberdovey 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. At the beginning of the 19th century a residence, Castle Green House, was built inside the walls incorporating the North Tower. This fell into disrepair in the 1940's and was allowed to decay further by the owner to the extent that the outer walls needed supporting. It was purchased by Ceredigion Council in April 2003 and it is intended to repair it as part of the regeneration of Cardigan.

External links

* [http://www.castlewales.com/cardigan.html Castle Wales on Cardigan castle]
* [http://www.cardigancastle.com/eng/ Cardigan castle redevelopment]
* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2768031 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Cardigan Castle]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cardigan, Ceredigion — infobox UK place country = Wales welsh name=Aberteifi constituency welsh assembly= Ceredigion static static image caption = Cardigan High Street map type= official name= Cardigan unitary wales= Ceredigion lieutenancy wales= Dyfed constituency… …   Wikipedia

  • Cardigan (Wales) — Aberystwyth …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Cardigan — Cardigan, Hauptstadt (municipal borough) von Cardiganshire (Wales), an der Mündung des Teisi, mit Hafen für Schiffe von 400 Ton., Lachs und Heringsfischerei, Ziegeleien, Töpfereien, Maschinenbau und (1901) 3511 Einw. In der Umgegend die Ruinen… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • cardigan — /kahr di geuhn/, n. a usually collarless knitted sweater or jacket that opens down the front. Also called cardigan sweater, cardigan jacket. [1865 70; named after J. T. Brudnell, 7th Earl of Cardigan (1797 1868), British cavalryman of Crimean War …   Universalium

  • Cardigan — /kahr di geuhn/, n. 1. Cardiganshire. 2. one of a variety of Welsh corgi having a long tail. Cf. Pembroke (def. 3). See illus. under Welsh corgi. * * * ▪ Wales, United Kingdom Welsh  Aberteifi        town …   Universalium

  • Cardigan Bay — an inlet of St. George s Channel, on the W coast of Wales. * * * Bay, western Wales. A widemouthed inlet of St. George s Channel, it is about 65 mi (105 km) long. Two national parks, Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire Coast, incorporate substantial… …   Universalium

  • Dinerth Castle — The Castle of Dinerth (Welsh: Castell Dineirth or Castell Dinerth, also Castell Allt Craig Arth) is a Welsh castle located near Aberarth, Ceredigion, west Wales (ca.1110). The ruins of the medieval timber castle can be found on a hill about 1½… …   Wikipedia

  • Cilgerran Castle — West tower, and access bridge to the inner ward over gully Cilgerran Castle is a 13th century ruined castle located in Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales, near Cardigan. The castle is a National Trust property, in the guardianship of Cadw: Welsh… …   Wikipedia

  • James Brudenell, 5th Earl of Cardigan — (April 20, 1715Fact|date=June 2008 [Most sources give 10 or 20 April 1725] ndash; February 24, 1811) held several offices in the Parliament of Great Britain and in service to the King of Great Britain. He was born in London, England and educated… …   Wikipedia

  • Constables and Governors of Windsor Castle — The Constables and Governors of Windsor Castle are in charge of Windsor Castle on behalf of the sovereign. The day to day operations are under the Superintendent, who is an officer of the Master of the Household s Department of the Royal… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”