Dolwyddelan Castle
| Dolwyddelan Castle | |
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| Part of Conwy County Borough | |
| Dolwyddelan, North Wales | |
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 Dolwyddelan Castle
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| Coordinates | 53°03′11″N 3°54′29″W / 53.05293°N 3.90809°W |
| Type | Enclosure castle |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Cadw |
| Condition | Partially ruinous |
| Site history | |
| Built | Early 13th Century |
| Built by | Llywelyn the Great |
| In use | Open to public |
| Materials | Siltstone |
| Events |
Welsh Wars Prince Madoc's Rebellion |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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Dolwyddelan Castle (Welsh: Castell Dolwyddelan) is a Welsh castle located near Dolwyddelan in Conwy County Borough in North Wales. It is thought to have been built in the early 13th century by Llywelyn the Great, Prince of Gwynedd and North Wales. Though the castle was then only one tower with two floors, a second tower was built in the late 13th century and a third floor was added to the first during the late 15th century repairs.
The castle was built, using mostly local grit and slate rubble, as one of the Snowdonian strongholds of the princes of Gwynedd. Though there are no records of the exact construction date, it is thought that a single rectangular tower, with two floors, was built in the early 13th century. The first floor would have consisted of a main chamber with a fireplace, with a trapdoor for entrance to the basement, and the main keep's doorway would have been covered by a porch or forebuilding.
The second two-storey tower was added by Edward I during the repairs in 1283–84 and linked by an irregular curtain wall with a courtyard in the centre, with further work undertaken in 1290–92. This second tower contained a fireplace on the top floor reached by internal stairs. A third storey was added to the main keep in the late 15th century, resulting in it then reaching a height of 40 feet (12 m). The castle was heavily restored between 1848 and 1850 by Baron Willoughby de Eresby during which time the battlements were added.
The Welsh castle, built in the early 13th century, functioned as a guard post along a main route through North Wales. It was reputed to be the birthplace of Llywelyn the Great, though it is now thought that he was born at Tomen Castell, a small tower that previously stood on a nearby hill, and that he built Dolwyddelan Castle. On 18 January 1283 it was captured by Edward I of England's forces during the final stages of his conquest of Wales. Some historians have suggested that there may have been a deal between the defenders of the castle and Edward I in which its surrender was negotiated. The castle was then modified and strengthened until at least 1286 for occupation by an English garrison with recorded repairs including carpentry, the bridge, and the water mill.
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Wikipedia