Criccieth Castle

Criccieth Castle
Part of Gwynedd
Criccieth, North Wales
The remains of the great gatehouse at Criccieth Castle.
Criccieth Castle
Coordinates	52°54′58″N 4°13′57″W / 52.916°N 4.2325°W / 52.916; -4.2325
Type	Enclosure Castle
Site information
Controlled by	Cadw
Condition	Ruinous
Site history
Built	c.1230-1280s
Built by	Llywelyn the Great Llywelyn ap Gruffudd James of St George
In use	Open to public
Materials	Siltstone
Events	Welsh Wars Prince Madoc's Rebellion Owain Glyndŵr rebellion

Listed Building – Grade I

Criccieth Castle (Welsh: Castell Cricieth) is a native Welsh castle situated on the headland between two beaches in Criccieth, Gwynedd, in North Wales, on a rocky peninsula overlooking Tremadog Bay. It was built by Llywelyn the Great of the kingdom of Gwynedd but it was heavily modified following its capture by English forces of Edward I in the late 13th century.

Construction

Although the stone castle was begun in the 1230s, there were three main building phases plus several periods of remodelling. The earliest part of the masonry castle is the inner ward which was started by Llywelyn the Great. Unlike most other Welsh native strongholds, the inner ward at Criccieth was protected by a gatehouse with twin D-shaped towers that was protected by a gate and portcullis, with murder holes in the passage, and outward facing arrowslits in each tower. This design might have been copied from English designs on the Marches at Beeston Castle, Cheshire or Montgomery Castle, Shropshire. The two towers of the gatehouse provided accommodation and their height was later increased in the Edwardian period. The castle's well was also in the gatehouse passage which was supplied by a spring fed cistern.

In the 1260s or 1270s, an outer ward was added during the second building phase under Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. A new gateway was added in the outer curtain with a large two-storey rectangular tower. The castle, although not a proper concentric design, now had two circuits of circular defences.

Criccieth was taken by English forces in 1283. Under James of Saint George, another two storey rectangular tower connected to the rest of the castle by a curtain wall, the "Engine Tower" (now in ruins) might have been the foundation for a siege engine. The gatehouse had another storey added and several Welsh mural towers were strengthened. An outer barbican was added to the outer curtain wall.

Under Welsh stewardship, the principal residence was in the SW tower but when the castle was taken over by the English, accommodation was situated in the towers of the D-shaped gatehouse. Timber buildings, which included a great hall, were erected within the inner ward.

History

A Motte and bailey stood at a different site in Criccieth before the masonry castle was built. In 1283 the castle was captured by English under the command of Edward I. It was then remodelled by James of St George.

In 1294, Madoc ap Llywelyn, a distant relation of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, began an uprising against English rule that spread quickly through Wales. Several English-held towns were razed and Criccieth (along with Harlech Castle and Aberystwyth Castle) were besieged that winter. Its residents survived until spring when the castle was resupplied.

In the 14th century the castle had a notable Welsh constable called Hywel ap Gruffydd, known as Howell the Axe, who fought for Edward III at the Battle of Poitiers in 1356.

The castle was used as a prison until 1404 when Welsh forces captured the castle during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr. The Welsh then tore down its walls and set the castle alight. Some stonework still show the scorch marks.

Criccieth was also one of several locations Romantic artist Joseph Mallord William Turner used for his famous series of paintings depicting shipwrecked mariners.

Present day

The castle is maintained by Cadw. It includes exhibits and information on Welsh castles as well as the Anglo-Norman writer Gerald of Wales.

Constable

The constable of the castle was ex officio also the Mayor of Criccieth.

List of Constables

Source The Castle Community: The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272-1422

1284: William de Leybourne
?–1309: William le Butiller
1309–1316: William Trumwyn
1316–?: John de Welles
1317–1321: Oillard de Welles
1321–?: John de Swennerton
1322–1326: Thomas Jay
1326–1327: William de Shaldeford
1327: Richard de Munemuth
1330–?: Richard de Holland
1333: Richard de Allespath
1333–death: Richard de Holland (restored)
?–1338: Robert de Hambury
1338–1343: John le Strange of Muddle
c.1347–c.1359: William de St Omer
1359–?1381: Hywel ap Gryffydd (Hywel y Fwyall- Howell the Axe) (died 1381) ^[1]
1381–1391: Thomas Beushef
1391–?: William Frodesham
1396–1398: William Hugon
? –1398: John Gamull
1398–?: William Hugon and John Gamull

References

↑ http://www.castlewales.com/criccth.html

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Criccieth Castle.

Edwardian castles in Wales

Built or rebuilt by Edward I	Aberystwyth Beaumaris Builth Caernarfon Conwy Flint Harlech Rhuddlan

Welsh castles repaired by Edward I	Castell y Bere Criccieth Dolwyddelan Hope (Caergwrle)

Lordship castles built or rebuilt for Edward I	Chirk Denbigh Hawarden Holt Ruthin

Other	Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd

Gwynedd

Principal settlements	Bala Bangor Barmouth Bethesda Blaenau Ffestiniog Caernarfon Criccieth Dolgellau Ffestiniog Harlech Nefyn Porthmadog Pwllheli Tywyn

Towns and villages	Aberangell Aberdaron Aberdesach Aberdyfi Abererch Abergeirw Abergwyngregyn Abergynolwyn Aberllefenni Abersoch Abertrinant Afon Wen Anelog Arthog Beddgelert Bethania Bethel Bethesda Betws Garmon Bodferin Boduan Bontddu Bontnewydd Botwnnog Bryncroes Bryn-crug Brynrefail Buan Bwlch-derwin Caeathro Capel Celyn Carmel Carnguwch Ceidio Chwilog Clwt-y-bont Clynnog Fawr Corris Uchaf Corris Croesor Cwm y Glo Deiniolen Dinas Dinas Dinlle Dinas Mawddwy Dinorwig Dolbenmaen Dolmelinllyn Dwygyfylchi Edern Efailnewydd Eisingrug Fairbourne Friog Frongoch Ganllwyd Garndolbenmaen Garneddwen Gellilydan Glasinfryn Groeslon Llan Ffestiniog Llanaber Llanaelhaearn Llanarmon Llanbedr Llanbedrog Llanberis Llandanwg Llandegwning Llandeiniolen Llandudwen Llandwrog Llandygai Llanegryn Llanelltyd Llanengan Llanfaelrhys Llanfaglan Llanfair Llanfihangel Bachellaeth Llanfihangel-y-Pennant Llanfihangel-y-Pennant, Dolbenmaen Llanfrothen Llangelynnin Llangian Llangwnnadl Llangybi Llaniestyn Llanigian Llanllechid Llanllyfni Llannor Llanrug Llanuwchllyn Llanwnda Llanymawddwy Llanystumdwy Llithfaen Llwyndyrys Llwyngwril Maentwrog Mallwyd Mellteyrn Minffordd Morfa Bychan Morfa Nefyn Mynydd Llandygai Mynydd Nefyn Mynytho Nantlle Valley Rhostryfan Nantmor Nasareth Nebo Pant Glas Penffridd Penisa'r Waun Penllech Penllyn Penmaenpool Pennal Penrhos Penrhyndeudraeth Pentre Gwynfryn Penygroes Pen-y-meinl Pistyll Pontrug Porthdinllaen Portmeirion Prenteg Rachub Rhiwddolion Rhosgadfan Rhoshirwaun Rhoslefair Rhos-y-gwaliau Rhyd Ddu Rhyd Rhyd-uchaf Rhydyclafdy Sarn Meyllteyrn Soar Talsarnau Tal-y-bont (near Bangor) Tal-y-bont (near Barmouth) Tal-y-llyn Talysarn Tanygrisiau Trawsfynydd Trefor Tregarth Tremadog Tudweiliog Tywyn Waunfawr Y Felinheli Y Ffor Y Fron Y Rhiw

Education	Bangor University Coleg Harlech Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor Coleg Menai Schools

Castles and forts	Caernarfon Castle Castell y Bere Criccieth Castle Dolbadarn Castle Harlech Castle Fort Belan

Rivers	Afon Aber River Adda Afon Artro Afon Cegin Afon Cwmnantcol Afon Daron Afon Dwyfor Afon Dwyryd Afon Dysynni Afon Fathew Afon Glaslyn Afon Llyfni Afon Mawddach Afon Ogwen Afon Rhythallt Afon Seiont Afon Tryweryn

Islands	Bardsey Island Ynys Gifftan Ynys Gwylan-fawr St Tudwals Islands

Topics	Parliamentary constituencies Places SSSIs Country houses Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings History Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Museums

Governors and Constables in England and Wales

Governors	Berwick-upon-Tweed Calshot Castle Chester Carlisle Guernsey Gravesend and Tilbury Hull Isle of Wight Isle of Man Jersey Landguard Fort Pendennis Castle Plymouth Portsmouth Rochester Castle Sheerness Upnor Castle Worcester Windsor Castle

Constables	Criccieth Castle Dover Castle Flint Castle Lancaster Castle Portchester Tower of London

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