List of castles in Wales

Further information on Welsh castles: Castles in Great Britain and Ireland

Wales is sometimes called the "castle capital of the world" because of the large number of castles in a relatively small area.[1][2] Wales had about 600 castles,[3] of which over 100 are still standing, either as ruins or as restored buildings. The rest have returned to nature, and today consist of ditches, mounds, and earthworks, often in commanding positions. Many of the sites in Wales are cared for by Cadw, the Welsh government's historic environment service.

The four castles of Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy, and Harlech together make up the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd World Heritage Site, considered to be the "finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe".[4]

Bridgend

Castles of which only earthworks, fragments, or nothing remains include:

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Candleston Castle Fortified manor house 14th century Ruined Only the tower remains of a C14 fortified manor house built by the de Cantelupes.[6]
Coity Castle Keep and bailey 12th - 14th centuries Ruined Cadw Prominently sited above Heol West Plas, Coity Castle was founded in the early twelfth century and was granted to the Norman family of Turberville.[7]
Kenfig Castle Keep and bailey 12th century Fragmentary remains The scanty remains of Kenfig Castle, a once great medieval fortress, rise from the dunes beside the Cynfig river.[8]
Llangynwyd Castle 12th century Fragmentary remains At Llangynwyd the remains of a once splendid medieval fortress are now reduced to scanty ruins and earthworks.[9]
Newcastle Enclosure castle 12th century Ruined Cadw The castle's most outstanding feature is its complete Norman doorway, which greets the visitor approaching the castle from the south.[10]

Caerphilly

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Caerphilly Castle Concentric castle 13th - 14th century Ruined, with partial restoration Cadw Caerphilly is the largest medieval castle in Wales and one of the most impressive in Europe.[11]
Morgraig Castle Enclosure castle 13th century Fragmentary remains Built between 1243 and 1267, the form of the castle is unusual and has no comparisons elsewhere. Debate has centred on whether the castle was built by the Welsh Lords of Senghenydd, or by the Norman Lords of Glamorgan.[12][13]
Ruperra Castle Mock castle 17th century Ruined Private Built c1626 by Sir Thomas Morgan, steward to the Earl of Pembroke, and the latest example of the Elizabethan and Jacobean court taste for castellated mansions.[14]
Ruperra Motte Motte and bailey 12th century Ruined, with partial restoration Ruperra Conservation Trust The site includes remains of a medieval castle motte on a much earlier Iron Age hillfort.[15]

Cardiff

Castles of which only earthworks or nothing remains include:

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Cardiff Castle Shell Keep 11th century Ruined, with partial restoration Cardiff Council Cardiff Castle was established within the walls of a mighty Roman fort by William I of England in about 1081.[16]
Castell Coch Gothic Revival 19th century (Originally 11th century) Intact Cadw Castell Coch, located on a prominent wooded hillside overlooking the Taff Valley and the northern part of Cardiff, is a remarkable blend of solid medieval masonry and High Victorian Gothic fantasy.[17]
St Fagans Castle Enclosure castle 13th century Ruined National Museum Wales The remains of the medieval castle at St Fagans include the southern part of a stone curtain wall. The enclosure is currently overlain by an Elizabethan mansion, with part of the surviving curtain serving to define its forecourt.[18]
Bishop's Palace, Llandaff Concentric castle 13th century Ruined Cardiff Council Bishop's Palace is also known as Llandaff Castle or Bishop's Castle[19][20]

Carmarthenshire

Castles of which only earthworks or nothing remains include:[21]

  • Allt y Ferin
  • Banc y Bettws
  • Bank Llwyndomen
  • Castell Aber Cafwy
  • Castell Bach
  • Castell Du
  • Castell Llwyn Bedw
  • Castell Mawr
  • Castell Meurig
  • Castell Moel
  • Castell Nonni
  • Castell Pencader
  • Castell y Domen
  • Castell y Garreg
  • Castell y Rhingyll
  • Castelldwyran
  • Garn Fawr Motte
  • Glan Mynys Mount
  • Hendy Castle
  • Llanddowror Motte
  • Llandre Egremont
  • Llanelli Old Castle
  • Llanglydwen
  • Llanllwni Mount
  • Parc y Domen
  • Pen y Cnap
  • Pencastell
  • Roche Castle
  • St Clears
  • Talley Mound
  • Tir y Dail Motte
  • Tomenlawddog
  • Tomenseba
  • Waun Ddu
  • Waun Tympath
Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Carmarthen Castle Shell Keep 11th century Ruined Carmarthenshire Council Remains of the high medieval castle, including a shell keep, gatehouse and two towers, are obscured by modern buildings, notably County Hall.[22]
Carreg Cennen Castle Enclosure castle 13th century Ruined Cadw Spectacularly set on a crag over the upper Cennen valley. A vaulted passage runs from the SE corner to a cave below E outer ward.[23]
Dinefwr Castle 12th century Cadw Dinefwr castle is thought to have been founded in the later twelfth century by Rhys ap Gruffudd, the Lord Rhys, and became known as the traditional capital of Dyfed.[24]
Dryslwyn Castle 13th century Cadw The shattered ruins of a medieval castle crown the ultimate summit of a dramatically isolated and abrupt hill rising from the Tywi floodplain.[25]
Kidwelly Castle 12th century and earlier Cadw Kidwelly Castle is an imposing ruin, situated on a scarp above the upper tidal limit of the Gwendraeth Fach Estuary, and considered one of the finest castles in Wales.[26]
Laugharne Castle 13th century Cadw The castle of Laugharne was built by the Anglo-Normans in the early twelfth century and is probably mentioned in 1116, but the existing ruins are thirteenth century and later.[27]
Llandovery Castle 11th century Llandovery Castle is a motte and bailey castle first mentioned in 1113. Extensive remains of masonry walls and towers occupy the motte, and a shell keep enclosure is represented by half-buried footings.[28]
Llansteffan Castle 12th century Cadw Prominently situated on a rocky promontory, overlooking the mouth of the Tywi. Substantial and impressive remains of a rubble masonry castle dating from the C12 to C15.[29]
Castell Moel 16th century Shattered ruins of a possibly 16th but probably 17th century house ruins; an early wing was incorporated into large cruciform renaissance house.[30]
Newcastle Emlyn Castle 13th & 15th century Shattered ruins remain of Newcastle Emlyn Castle. Excavation through the 1980s have revealed some details, but the castle is best known from a collection of medieval accounts and surveys.[31]

Ceredigion

Castles of which only earthworks or nothing remains include:[21]

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Aberystwyth Castle Concentric castle 13th century Ruined Aberystwyth Town Council Work on Aberystwyth Castle commenced in 1277 under Edward I and was completed in 1289. The castle remains have been much restored and now form part of a public park.[32]
Cardigan Castle 13th century Ceredigion County Council Situated on promontory overlooking Cardigan Bridge. Portions of the curtain wall survive in the tall embankment overlooking the bridge. There are remains of three semi-circular towers, the largest & most elaborate incorporated into the early C19 Castle Green House[33]

Conwy

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Conwy Castle 13th century Ruined, with partial restoration Cadw
Deganwy Castle 13th century Earthworks remain
Dolwyddelan Castle 13th century Partially ruinous Cadw
Gwrych Castle 19th century Derelict, being restored Gwrych Castle Preservation Trust Mock Gothic
Gwydir Castle 16th century Intact Private

Denbighshire

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Bodelwyddan Castle 19th century (Originally 15th)
Denbigh Castle 13th -14th century Cadw
Dinas Brân 12th century
Dyserth Castle 13th century
Rhuddlan Castle 13th century Cadw
Ruthin Castle 13th century Hotel
Twthill, Rhuddlan 11th century Cadw
Prestatyn Castle 12th century Motte & Bailey castle

Flintshire

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Caergwrle Castle 13th century Cadw
Ewloe Castle 12th century Cadw
Flint Castle 13th century Cadw
Hawarden Castle 13th century
New Hawarden Castle 18th century
Mold Castle 12th century

Gwynedd

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Bryn Bras Castle 19th century
Caernarfon Castle 13th century Ruined, with partial restoration Cadw
Carndochan Castle 13th century
Castell y Bere 13th century Cadw
Criccieth Castle 13th century Cadw
Dinas Emrys 12th century keep on early medieval site
Dolbadarn Castle 13th century Cadw
Harlech Castle 13th century Cadw
Penrhyn Castle 19th century Intact National Trust

Isle of Anglesey

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Castell Aberlleiniog 12th century
Beaumaris Castle 13th century Cadw

Merthyr Tydfil

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Morlais Castle 13th century
Cyfarthfa Castle 19th century

Monmouthshire

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Abergavenny Castle 11th to 13th century
Betws Newydd Castle 11th century
Caldicot Castle 12th to 15th century
Castell Arnold 12th century Near Llanover
Chepstow Castle 11th to 14th century Cadw
Dingestow Castle 11th and 12th century Two castles, one 11th century the other 12th
Grosmont Castle 12th to 14th century Cadw
Llanfair Kilgeddin Castle 11th century
Llantrisant, Monmouthshire Castell Troggy 13th century
Llanvair Discoed Castle 12th to 13th century
Monmouth Castle 11th to 13th century Cadw
Newcastle 11th century
Penrhos Castle 11th century
Pen y Clawdd Castle 11th century Near Abergavenny
Raglan Castle 15th century Cadw
Skenfrith Castle 12th to 13th century Cadw
Tregrug Castle 13th century
Trellech Castle 12th century
Usk Castle 12th to 14th century
White Castle 11th to 13th century Cadw

Neath Port Talbot

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Margam Castle 19th century Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
Neath Castle 12th century Neath Town Council

Newport

Castle with only earthworks, Wentloog Castle.

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Caerleon Castle 11th to 13th century
Newport Castle 13th century Cadw
Pencoed Castle 13th century
Penhow Castle 12th century

Pembrokeshire

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Benton Castle[34] no date
Carew Castle 11th to 16th century Private / Open to the public
Cilgerran Castle 13th century Cadw
Haverfordwest Castle 12th century
Llawhaden Castle 12th to 14th century Cadw
Manorbier Castle 12th to 14th century Private / Open to the public
Narberth Castle 13th century
Newport Castle 19th century
Pembroke Castle 12th & 13th century Private / Open to the public
Picton Castle 12th century Picton Castle Trust
Roch Castle 12th century Private
Tenby Castle 13th century
Upton Castle 13th century Private
Wiston Castle 12th century Cadw
Wolf's Castle Motte and bailey 11th century

Powys

Castles of which only earthworks, fragments or nothing remains include:

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Aberedw Castle 11th to 13th century Two castles, one 11th and one 13th century
Blaenllyfni Castle 13th century
Brecon Castle 11th century Hotel
Bronllys Castle 12th century Cadw
Cefnllys Castle Hill castle 12th century Fragmentary remains Three castles, an 11th century motte and bailey followed by two 13th century masonry castles.
Crickhowell Castle 12th century
Dolforwyn Castle 13th century Cadw
Hay Castle 11th or 12th century Hay Castle Trust
Llanthomas Castle Mound 11th or 12th century Private
Maesllwch Castle 19th century Private 19th-century house in castellated style
Montgomery Castle 13th century Cadw
Powis Castle 12th to 19th century National Trust
Tretower Castle 12th century Cadw

Rhondda Cynon Taf

Castles of which only earthworks, fragments or nothing remains include:

Castell Nos
Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Llantrisant Castle 13th century

Swansea

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Loughor Castle 12th century Cadw
Oxwich Castle 16th century Cadw
Oystermouth Castle 12th & 13th century City and County of Swansea Council
Pennard Castle 12th century Pennard Golf Course
Penrice Castle 13th century Private
Swansea Castle 12th century Cadw
Weobley Castle 13th century Cadw

Vale of Glamorgan

Castles of which only earthworks, fragments or nothing remains include:

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Barry Castle 13th - 14th century Cadw
Fonmon Castle 14th century Private
Hensol Castle 18th century Private
Ogmore Castle 12th century Cadw
Old Beaupre Castle 16th century Cadw
Penmark Castle 12th century
St Donat's Castle 12th century Atlantic College
St Quintins Castle 14th century Cadw

Wrexham

Name Image Type Date Condition Ownership / Access Notes
Chirk Castle 13th century National Trust
Holt Castle 13th century

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Less Traveled Britain: 5 Reasons to Visit Wales". independenttraveler.com. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
  2. ^ "Wales: The Castle Capital of the World". Travelblog.com. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Castle country". Wales.com. Welsh Government. Retrieved 5 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd". UNESCO. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  5. ^ "Oldcastle, Nolton, Suggested Castle Site (401432)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  6. ^ Cadw. "Candleston Castle (11230)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Coity Castle (94504)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Kenfig Castle (300455)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  9. ^ "Llangynwyd Castle (94553)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  10. ^ Cadw. "Newcastle Castle (GM063)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 6 August 2019.
  11. ^ Cadw. "Caerphilly Castle (13539)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  12. ^ Cadw. "Castell Morgraig (13540)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  13. ^ Iorweth, Dylan (1997). "The Mystery at Morgraig". Heritage in Wales. 7: 17–19. (reproduced in the Castle Studies Group newsletter Vol. 11 p. 35-39)
  14. ^ Cadw. "Ruperra Castle (14069)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  15. ^ Cadw. "Ruperra Hillfort and Motte (GM511)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Cardiff Castle (33)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  17. ^ "Castell Coch, Tongwynlais (93112)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  18. ^ "St Fagans Castle, Cardiff (300313)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Llandaff". Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  20. ^ "Bishop's Castle (96079)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  21. ^ a b King, D.J.C. (1983). Castellarium Anglicanum: An Index and Bibliography of the Castles in England, Wales and the Islands. London: Kraus International Publications. ISBN 978-0-527-50110-5.
  22. ^ "Carmarthen Castle (95084)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  23. ^ Cadw. "Carreg Cennen Castle (20923)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  24. ^ "Castell Dinefwr (425)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  25. ^ "Dryslwyn Castle, Dryslwyn (100682)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  26. ^ "Kidwelly Castle, Kidwelly (95633)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  27. ^ "Laugharne Castle (95634)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  28. ^ "Llandovery Castle (92751)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  29. ^ Cadw. "Llansteffan Castle (9405)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  30. ^ "Green Castle, Ruins;castell Moel (17403)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  31. ^ "Newcastle Emlyn Castle (92783)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  32. ^ Cadw. "Aberystwyth Castle (CD008)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  33. ^ "Cardigan Castle (92314)". Coflein. RCAHMW. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  34. ^ Alan Reid, Castles of Wales, 2nd ed.(Ruthin: John Jones Publishing Ltd. 1999)
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