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Caerphilly
Caerphilly Castle in Glamorgan, South Wales, is arguably the most impressive non-royal
castle in Wales, and stands comparison with even the mightiest of the castles
built by Edward
I after 1276. It was built from 1268 by Red (as he was known after the fiery
colour of his hair) Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, in an effort to assert
his claim to the disputed territory of upland Glamorgan.
A quick tour of Caerphilly reveals how much had changed since the 12th century,
when keeps or great towers were fashionable. When
castles were laid out from scratch in the 13th century, master masons and their
patrons preferred an 'enclosure' model, which allowed them greater freedom to
experiment with new designs. The hall, the chapel, the kitchens and stables were
now arranged around a courtyard, and all this was surrounded, or 'enclosed', by
a circuit of high walls. A very early example of this type of castle was built
at Framlingham in Suffolk from 1190.
Enclosed and safe
The walls of an enclosure castle were punctuated with strong towers. These stood
taller than the walls themselves in order to allow flanking fire in all directions
against attackers. Throughout the 13th century, there was a distinct preference
for round towers rather than square ones. It seems clear that 13th-century masons
and military experts thought that this made the towers stronger. For example,
the 13th-century masons who repaired the shattered 12th-century keep of Rochester
Castle clearly weren't in the least bit interested in making it look pretty
again - they simply wanted it to be stronger, and so they replaced the collapsed
square tower with a round one.
Another very important development in the 13th century was the gatehouse, which
grew in size until it started to resemble a keep. From the start of the century,
the gatehouse was formed by building two round towers either side of the entrance.
A larger gatehouse meant there was room for accommodation above the entrance,
which was often used by the constable of the castle.
Caerphilly also exemplifies the idea of 'concentricity', or having several lines
of defence around the castle. The centre of the castle is protected by two complete
loops of walls, one inside the other. The most striking element of Caerphilly's
defences, however, are the great artificial lakes which surround it. The deep
water of the moat made undermining impossible, and the wide expanses of water
either side of the castle denied would-be attackers a place to put their trebuchets
(catapults).
Flashpoint
As well as being a fascinating castle in its own right, Caerphilly was one of
the main flashpoints for the war which led to the conquest
of Wales. Its building from 1268 was seen as a provocation against Welsh leader
Llywelyn
ap Gruffudd, and a challenge to his newly acquired title as prince of Wales.
Llywelyn twice attacked the castle while it was being built, but failed to gain
possession in 1272. Instead, he tried complaining to Edward I, and miscalculated
badly by trying to force the king into action. Edward's devastating response was
to invade and conquer Wales. With the threat from Llywelyn removed, Caerphilly
Castle was used less as a fortress and more as a centre for control and administration
of the de Clare estates in the Glamorgan uplands.
The Red Earl died in 1295 and the estates passed to his son, also called Gilbert.
Gilbert was killed at the battle of Bannockburn
in 1314, ending the de Clare male line.
In 1317, the de Clare inheritance was partitioned between Earl Gilbert's three
younger sisters. Eleanor de Clare, the eldest, was married to Hugh Despenser the
younger. A favourite of Edward
II, he held the court position of chamberlain. Able to pick which part of
the de Clare estates he wanted he chose the lordship of Glamorgan and Cardiff,
and therefore acquired the castle. Despenser started work on the great hall at
Caerphilly Castle. In 1326 the deeply unpopular Edward II was forced to abdicate
by his estranged wife and some rebel barons. The king spent some time taking refuge
at Caerphilly with his favourite Despenser before both were eventually captured.
Despenser was executed.
The castle today
From this time on the castle's role as a fortress and as the domestic residence
of a lord declined, with its various owners preferring the more comfortable surroundings
of other properties.
Today the castle is under the care of CADW and is open to the public. Hugh Despenser's
hall is available to hire for weddings..
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