Kidwelly Castle

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Built to assert dominance over the land, Kidwelly castle stands with an impressive stature. There are many areas to explore with something new around each corner and a beautiful walk around it. Parking is limited but any walk is well worth the trip to this magnificent castle.
Its name comes from when it was spelt Cygweli which means "swan."

Filmed: Spring 2021
Music: Royalty Free Music - Alexander Nakarada -    • Celtic Fantasy Music - "Traveler" by ...  
Entry: Paid

---- Short History ----
- When the Normans conquered England in 1066, neither Willian I nor William II focused on Wales. Instead they established Earldoms on the border.
- The Marcher Lords became defacto rulers of their lands and conquered territory for themselves in Wales.
- This threatened the monarch’s supremacy. So Henry I established Carmarthen Castle.
- In 1106, when the Lord of Kidwelly died, his lands were relocated to the Bishop of Salisbury who was a trusted servant of Henry I. He started work on Kidwelly Castle around 1114.
- The early castle was an earth and timber ringwork fortification. There was no keep, but it is possible there was at least one building made of stone, possibly the Great Hall.
- In 1136-7 a major Welsh rebellion took place against Norman rule with a battle being fought at Kidwelly.
- In 1190 Kidwelly was captured by a Welsh lord named Gruffudd ap Rhys. But his death in 1197 saw the castle returned to the de Londres family.
- Another Welsh attack in 1215 by one of Rhys’s sons captured the castle and held it until 1220 when it returned again to the de Londres family.
- It was again attacked in 1231 and was badly damaged. During this time the defences were rebuilt in stone.
- It eventually passed to Payn de Chaworth who commissioned significant building works with construction of the Inner Ward.
- In 1283 it passed to William de Valence, Earl of Pembroke who further upgraded the castle.
- It would change hands multiple times over many turbulent years. But when Henry IV took the throne in 1399 Kidwelly became a Royal castle.
- Further Welsh attacks would come in the following years but the castle withstood them. Eventually things would calm down and in the later 15th century Kidwelly declined in importance.
- From the 17th century it had fallen into ruin.
- It eventually was taken on by the state in 1927.

#Castle #Kidwelly #Wales #Swansea #Norman


---- Further Reading ----
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidwell...
- http://www.castlewales.com/kidwelly.html
- http://www.castlesfortsbattles.co.uk/...


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