The Castle
‘The castle is justly famed as a monument to the art of castle building.There is no greater example of an imposing and stately edifice, the earliest and one of the outstanding examples of the concentric castle, the most advanced design in military fortifications evolved during the Middle Ages…Few castles in the British Isles can be compared with it in boldness of conception or in the unity of its structure, while the vast extent of its defences and outworks is exceeded by none save, perhaps, by those of Windsor ‘ - Professor William Rees .
Caerphilly castle is most famous for it’s leaning tower (as well as having its own ghost: The Green Lady). It is second only to the leaning tower of PisaLeaning Tower of Pisa (as shown on the left). the lean was supposedly caused by parts of the castle being blown up during the English civil war (during the 17th century), but others say it was simply caused by subsidence. I think the former sounds better in tourist guides. Information about the castle you might not have come across is that it was used in the film Restoration, starring Meg Ryan & Hugh Grant. It also has it’s own ghost, the Green Lady.
A Short Guide to the History of Caerphilly Castle
* 1268 - Gilbert de Clare (the Red Earl of Gloucester) begins building Kastell Kaerffilli to gain a foothold in the area.
* 1270 - Attacked & destroyed by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd (who ruled most of Wales & was recognised by Henry III as Prince of Wales.
* 1271 - Gilbert starts to build another castle, a few months later Llywelyn attacks and captures it.The king declares a truce, but during this time Gilbert resumes construction of the castle.
* 1272 - Llywelyn is forced out of the area by Gilbert & local barons. Construction continues uninterrupted.
* 1284 - Wales loses it’s independence, this meant that such a powerful fortress is not needed, but it was never taken in the uprisings of 1294-5 & 1316
* 1403-05 - the castle surrenders to Owain Glyndwr and his forces
* 1411 - 1648 (approx.) the castle falls into decline, mainly used as an administrative centre
* 1648 - during the Civil War royalists build defensive earthworks which were designed to cover the Northern approach, but Parliamentary forces breached the defences, drained the lake & blew up the towers (this is when the leaning tower is supposed to have been created
* 1758 - Passes to the 1st Marquis of Bute who try’s to preserve what remains of the castle
* Approx. 1870 - 1939 The 3rd and 4th Marquises of Bute restore the castle to it’s present state.
* 1949 - Entrusted to the state by the 5th Marquis of Bute
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