| Rhuddlan Castle | |
|---|---|
Castell Rhuddlan (Welsh) | |
| Part ofDenbighshire | |
| Rhuddlan, Wales | |
 A view of the castle from across theRiver Clwyd | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Concentric castle |
| Controlled by | Cadw |
| Condition | Ruin |
| Website | Castell Rhuddlan |
| Location | |
  Rhuddlan Castle Location in Wales | |
| Coordinates | 53°17′20″N3°27′52″W / 53.2889°N 3.464528°W /53.2889; -3.464528 |
| Site history | |
| Built | From 1277 to 1282 |
| Built by | Master Bertram James of St. George |
| In use | Open to public. |
| Materials | Limestone |
| Demolished | 1648 |
| Events | Welsh Wars English Civil War |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
Rhuddlan Castle (Welsh:Castell Rhuddlan;Welsh pronunciation:[kastɛɬˈr̥ɨðlan]) is a castle located inRhuddlan,Denbighshire, Wales. It was erected byEdward I in 1277, following theFirst Welsh War.
Much of the work was overseen by master masonJames of Saint George. Rhuddlan, which was not completed until 1282, was built concurrently withFlint Castle, at a time when King Edward I of England was consolidating his conquest of Wales. It was temporarily his residence, and his daughter,Elizabeth, is presumed to have been born there.[1]
Rhuddlan was planned as aconcentric castle. It has a unique 'diamond' in layout as the gatehouses are positioned at the corners of the square baileys instead of along the sides like atFlint,Harlech orBeaumaris. Records of construction costs show that it was the major piece of building work being carried out by the English during the late 1270s.[2]
Theinner ward hasdefensive walls with twin-tower gatehouses. Theouter ward is surrounded by acurtain wall that has small towers andturrets. According toThomas Pennant, who passed through the town on his travels in the 18th century, one of the towers is named "Twr-y-Silod" ("Grain Tower"), and another "Twr-y-Brenin" ("The King's Tower").[3] The castle had a three-sidedmoat, with theRiver Clwyd protecting its fourth side. Within the inner ward there was a great hall, kitchens, private apartments and a chapel. The outer bailey had a granary, stables and asmithy.[4]
Rhuddlan is next to theRiver Clwyd. During the fortification's lengthy construction, the river course was straightened and dredged to allow ships to sail inland along a man-made channel. Its purpose was to allow provisions and troops to reach the castle even if hostile forces or a siege prevented overland travel.
A further protective earthwork and timber structure was created around it in 1280–82. The castle was completed prior to the rebellion ofLlywelyn the Last in 1282.[4]
The story of Rhuddlan goes back much further than the fortress built by Edward I. Prior to theNorman occupation of lower Gwynedd, Rhuddlan was at the heart of a Welshcantref. From here the Lords of Rhuddlan commanded thePerfeddwlad (lands of north-east Wales) on behalf ofGruffydd ap Llywelyn (1007 – 5 August 1063), the last ruler of all Wales. The town itself, however, began as a Saxon "burgh" founded byEdward the Elder.[5]
In the late 11th century, theNormans invaded Gwynedd. Rhuddlan's strategic position ensured that it was fought over by thePrinces of Gwynedd and theEarls of Chester, with Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, who had been driven out byHarold Godwinson,[4] re-taking the town. The remains of aNorman castle atTwthill, built in 1086, is just to the south of the current castle; it was built byRobert of Rhuddlan, a supporter of KingWilliam I of England.[5]
In July 1277, at the outbreak of theWelsh Wars, Edward I leftChester and established an advance base atFlint, where building work immediately began onFlint Castle. With naval assistance from 25 ships of theCinque Ports fleet, the army pushed along the coast. By August Edward had moved his forces on to Rhuddlan, which, as was his custom, he was able to supply by river.[6] Three months later the town was ceded to theEnglish Crown following theTreaty of Aberconwy betweenLlywelyn ap Gruffudd and Edward I.
Work on Rhuddlan Castle began immediately under the control of Master Bertram, aGascon engineer, but construction was soon handed over toSavoyard master mason,James of St George, who remained in charge until labour ceased in 1282. Besieged by the Welsh during the rebellion of 1282, until relieved by an English force led by futureAmadeus V, Count of Savoy.
Edward I also created a newborough, north of his castle, away from the pre-existing Norman town andDominicanFriary. The 13th-century street layout can still be seen in themodern town. The borough, like at Flint, was defended with a pair of ditch-separatedearthworks and atimber palisade. Rhuddlan Castle became a part of Edward'sRing of Iron fortifications.
Elizabeth, the eighth daughter of Edward I, was born at Rhuddlan in 1282, the same year work at the castle was completed. Two years later theStatute of Rhuddlan was signed at the castle following the defeat ofLlewellyn the Last, who had attacked the castle unsuccessfully. It ceded all the lands of the former Welsh Princes to theEnglish Crown and introducedEnglish common law. Edward I could now appoint Royal officials such assheriffs,constables andbailiffs to collect taxes and enforce English law throughout Wales. Following Rhuddlan, the counties of north western North Wales were placed under the control of theJusticiar of North Wales. Although the statute brought in English legislation,Welsh law continued to be practised at local level after the conquest of the Wales. This remained the case until 1536 when Rhuddlan's statute was repealed by theLaws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542 that made English common law the exclusive judicial system in Wales.
In 1294 the castle was attacked duringthe Welsh rising ofMadog ap Llywelyn but was not taken. It remained in English hands and was one of the places where KingRichard II of England stopped in 1399 on his way to Flint, where he would be taken prisoner by his rival,Henry IV.[1] It was attacked again in the following year by forces ofOwain Glyndŵr in 1400. This time the town was badly damaged but the castle held out. In the latter 15th and early 16th centuries the castle's condition deteriorated as its strategic and administrative importance waned.
Rhuddlan Castle was again garrisoned byRoyalist troops during theEnglish Civil War, and remained a stronghold of KingCharles I of England until well after theBattle of Naseby, being taken byParliamentary forces underThomas Mytton after a siege in 1646.[1] Two years later, Parliamentarianspartially demolished the castle to prevent any further military use. By the time Pennant passed through in 1781, it was largely ruined.[7]
Rhuddlan Castle is managed byCadw, aWelsh government body with the mission to protect, conserve and promote the building heritage of Wales.[6]
Edward I's castles in Wales | ||
|---|---|---|
| Built or rebuilt by Edward I |  | |
| Welsh castles repaired by Edward I | ||
| Lordship castles built or rebuilt for Edward I | ||
| Other | ||
