Aberystwyth Castle

Aberystwyth Castle
Part of Ceredigion
Aberystwyth Wales
Remains of the north tower gateway at Aberystwyth Castle.
Aberystwyth Castle
Coordinates	52°24′48″N 4°05′23″W / 52.41324°N 4.08968°W / 52.41324; -4.08968
Type	Diamond-shaped concentric castle
Site information
Controlled by	Aberystwyth Town Council
Condition	Ruin
Site history
Built	1277–1289
Built by	Later work attributed to James of Saint George
In use	Open to public
Materials	Siltstone
Demolished	1649
Events	Welsh Wars English Civil War
Listed Building – Grade I

Aberystwyth Castle (Welsh: Castell Aberystwyth) is a Grade I listed Edwardian fortress located in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Mid Wales. It was built in response to the First Welsh War in the late 13th century, replacing an earlier fortress. During a national uprising by Owain Glyndŵr, the Welsh captured the castle in 1404, but it was recaptured by the English four years later. In 1637 it became a Royal mint by Charles I, and produced silver shillings. The castle was slighted by Oliver Cromwell in 1649.

Marcher lord Gilbert de Clare built an earlier Motte and bailey castle a mile south of the current site in around 1110. It was called Castell Tan-y-castell, Aberrheidol Castle and Old Aberystwyth. In 1116 it was sieged by Griffith ap Rhys, but his attempt to capture it proved fruitless. He was eventually successful in 1135, capturing it and burning it to the ground. He gave it to his brother Cadwalader, who rebuilt it, but a fracas with his elder brother Owen Gwynedd led to Owen burning it in 1142. The castle was rebuilt and later reinforced with stone. After a succession of at least three owners, it was taken by Welsh prince Llywelyn the Great in 1221. Llywelyn razed this castle and erected a new one in its place. The castle was still being constructed when the Welsh briefly sieged it in 1282. Under master mason James of St George, the castle was eventually completed in 1289, though it was sieged extensively during the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn in 1294-5.