Cilgerran Castle
Encyclopedia
Cilgerran Castle is a 13th-century ruined castle
located in Cilgerran
, Pembrokeshire
, Wales
, near Cardigan
.
The castle is a National Trust
property, in the guardianship of Cadw
: Welsh Historic Monuments Executive Agency.
The castle sits on a rocky promontory
above the River Teifi
. An earth and timber castle is believed to have been built around 1100, though the existing masonry dates from around 13th century. This castle may have been the scene of the abduction of Nest
the wife of Gerald of Windsor by Owain ap Cadwgan
and fifteen companions at Christmas 1109. The chronicles refer to this as having taken place at the castle of "Cenarth Bychan", which is thought to have been Cilgerran. In 1215 the castle was taken by Llywelyn the Great
.
In 1223 the castle was recaptured by William Marshal
the younger, Earl of Pembroke, who rebuilt the castle in its present form.
The castle is largely ruinous, though two substantial towers remain. From the castle there are pleasant walks down to the River Teifi.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
located in Cilgerran
Cilgerran
Cilgerran is a town in the Hundred of Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales, lying on the River Teifi. It is the site of Cilgerran Castle, built in 1100, from which Owain of Powys is said to have abducted Nest in 1109. It is first mentioned by name in 1164...
, Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, near Cardigan
Cardigan, Ceredigion
Cardigan is a town in the county of Ceredigion in Mid Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Teifi at the point where Ceredigion meets Pembrokeshire. It was the county town of the pre-1974 county of Cardiganshire. It is the second largest town in Ceredigion. The town's population was 4,203...
.
The castle is a National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
property, in the guardianship of Cadw
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
: Welsh Historic Monuments Executive Agency.
The castle sits on a rocky promontory
Promontory
Promontory may refer to:*Promontory, a prominent mass of land which overlooks lower lying land or a body of water*Promontory, Utah, the location where the United States first Transcontinental Railroad was completed...
above the River Teifi
River Teifi
The River Teifi forms the boundary between the counties of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire in south-west Wales for most of its 75 mile length, flowing into the sea below the town of Cardigan. The catchment of the river is estimated to be 1,008 square kilometres yielding an average flow at Glan...
. An earth and timber castle is believed to have been built around 1100, though the existing masonry dates from around 13th century. This castle may have been the scene of the abduction of Nest
Nest verch Rhys
Nest ferch Rhys was a daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, last King of Deheubarth , by his wife, Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn of Powys. She is also known as "Nesta" or "Princess Nesta"....
the wife of Gerald of Windsor by Owain ap Cadwgan
Owain ap Cadwgan
Owain ap Cadwgan was a prince of Powys in eastern Wales. He is best known for his abduction of Nest, wife of Gerald of Windsor.Owain was the eldest son of Cadwgan ap Bleddyn, prince of part of Powys. He is first recorded in 1106, when he killed Meurig and Griffri, the sons of Trahaearn ap Caradog,...
and fifteen companions at Christmas 1109. The chronicles refer to this as having taken place at the castle of "Cenarth Bychan", which is thought to have been Cilgerran. In 1215 the castle was taken by Llywelyn the Great
Llywelyn the Great
Llywelyn the Great , full name Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, was a Prince of Gwynedd in north Wales and eventually de facto ruler over most of Wales...
.
In 1223 the castle was recaptured by William Marshal
William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke was a medieval English nobleman, and the son of the famous William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke.-Early life:William was born in Normandy probably during the spring of 1190...
the younger, Earl of Pembroke, who rebuilt the castle in its present form.
The castle is largely ruinous, though two substantial towers remain. From the castle there are pleasant walks down to the River Teifi.