Cardiff Castle - A 2000 Year History

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Cardiff Castle boasts over 2,000 years of history and change. From a Roman fort, which gives Cardiff its name (caer being Welsh for fort), to a WWII air-raid shelter. The current castle and its grounds offer hours of exploration and impressive sights. An army museum, cafe, tower view of Cardiff and a beautiful park all make Cardiff Castle the perfect day out when visiting Cardiff.

Filmed: Autumn 2021
Music:
Ignite Online Relaxing Music -    • Royalty Free Medieval Music  
Terra Fantasy Music -    • Celtic Fantasy Music - Celtic Forest ...  
Marc Tatossian -    • Call of Duty WWII Soundtrack: Paris  
Entry: Partially free. Paid entry for certain areas.

---- Short History ----

Roman Era:

The Romans occupied the area in the 1st century AD building the first fort.
It was used during the Roman conquest of the Silures, the local Welsh tribe.
In the mid 3rd century a fourth fort was built to combat the pirate threat along the coast. This is the fort that forms the basis of what remains today.
Built out of the Limestone brought by sea from Penarth; it remained occupied until at least the end of the 4th century.

Norman Era:

Cardiff Castle was first built in the late 11th century.
Fitzhamon used it as a base during his occupation of the rest of southern Glamorgan.
They used the Roman walls for their new motte-and-bailey.
The conquered lands were given out in packages called knights’ fees.
Cardiff Castle was a Marcher Lord territory.

In 1122, King Henry I gave the castle to his son, Robert of Gloucester.
Around the mid 12th century a 23m wide, 9m high shell keep was built on top of the moat.
Tensions continued with the Welsh though, and in 1158 Ifor Bach raided the castle and took the owner hostage.
After another attack, town walls had been built around Cardiff in 1184.

After Gilbert de Clare died in 1314, the castle was given to Hugh Despenser the Younger by Edward II.
Poor harvest and harsh governance by them lead to the Welsh rebellion under Llywelyn Bren in 1316. He was defeated however, and was hung, drawn and quartered in Cardiff Castle in 1318.
This led to the Despenser War and the castle was sacked in 1321.
The Despensers recovered the castle but Hugh Despenser was executed for treason in 1326.

The Despensers were primarily using Caerphilly Castle.
In 1401, Oqain Glyndwr started a rebellion in North Wales. It spread and in 1404 Cardiff Castle was taken.
After multiple changes of ownership the castle finally fell into the hands of the Earl of Worcester, after marrying Isabel le Despenser.
The marriage didn’t include Caerphilly though, so he began redeveloping Cardiff Castle.

Tudor Era:

The ownership of the castle shifted through many hands during the Wars of the Roses (1455-1487).
But the Welsh Tudor dynasty ascended the English throne in 1485 and tensions eased.
In 1495, Henry VII revoked the Marcher territory status of Cardiff Castle, bringing it under English law.

In 1550, William Herbert bought it from King Edward VI.
Extensive building work was carried out.

During the Civil War of 1642, the castle switched between both sides.
King Charles came to Cardiff to meet with local Welsh Leaders.

18/19th Century:

In 1776, Lord Mount Stuart (later The 1st Marquess of Bute), owned the castle and began radical rebuilding. The inner walls were destroyed with gunpowder, the Shire Hall and knights houses were flattened.

In 1868, the 3rd Marquess of Bute began building the 46m tall Clock Tower.
He also built the Guest Tower, the Arab Room, Chaucer Room, Nursery, Library, Banqueting Hall and more.
Work on the castle grounds destroying much of the medieval and Roman remains.
The Animal Wall was built in front of the castle during the 1880s. And in the late 1920s it was moved in front of Bute Park.

The coal trade further diminished after WWI and following the depression of the 20s and they sold off much of their assets around Cardiff.

In the early 20th century, there was more archeological investigations into the Roman walls. The stables was finally completed.

WWII:

During the war, the walls were used as air-raid shelters that could hold 1,800 people.
The castle was also used to tether barrage balloons above the city.

Modern Day:

In 1947, the 5th Marquess sold the last of the Bute lands in Cardiff and gave the castle and the surrounding park to the city.
The Firing Line, a joint regimental museum of the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards and the Royal Welsh is held beneath the castle.


#Cardiff #Castle #Wales #WWII #Roman

---- Further Reading ----
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff...


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