Blaenllynfi Castle facts for kids
Blaenllynfi Castle (Welsh: Castell Blaenllynfi) is an old stone castle in Powys, Wales. It is now mostly in ruins and is privately owned. This castle was likely built in the early 1200s. Over the years, it was captured many times during conflicts. It seems it was never fully repaired after these attacks and eventually fell into ruins. Today, it is a protected historical site.
Contents
History of Blaenllynfi Castle
How the Lordship Began
Blaenllynfi Castle was the main stronghold of an area known as the Lordship of Blaenllynfi. This special area was created in 1208. It was formed from part of the larger Lordship of Brecknock. This happened because the powerful Lord of Brecknock, William de Braose, had a major disagreement with King John.
The first ruler of this new Lordship was Peter FitzHerbert. He was a cousin of William de Braose. The castle was probably built between 1208 and 1215.
Early Conflicts and Captures
After King John's death, the Lordship of Blaenllynfi was returned to Peter FitzHerbert around 1217. Even though Blaenllynfi was the main castle, a nearby town called Talgarth grew in importance. Because of this, the Lordship was often called the Lordship of Talgarth.
In 1233, King Henry III had problems with some of his powerful nobles. One of his main opponents was Richard Marshal. Richard joined forces with Llywelyn the Great, a powerful Welsh prince. Together, they attacked Blaenllynfi Castle in October 1233.
The Castle in the Barons' War
The castle was rebuilt, but it faced more attacks. In 1262, during the Second Barons' War, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd (Llywelyn the Great's grandson) captured the castle. However, by 1273, Peter FitzHerbert's son, Reginald FitzPiers, had taken it back.
Later, in 1308, Reginald's son, John FitzReginald, gave control of his lands to the new king, King Edward II. The king then granted these lands to Rhys ap Hywel, who was an ally of King Edward I.
The Castle Falls into Ruin
Rhys ap Hywel, like other powerful lords, did not agree with the actions of Hugh Despenser, a close advisor to King Edward II. Around 1322, after an attempt to rebel, the king took the Lordship of Blaenllynfi and gave it to the Despenser family.
By this time, the castle had likely never been properly fixed after the attack by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. When Hugh Despenser died in 1326, Blaenllynfi Castle was almost completely ruined.
Rhys ap Hywel was involved in the events that led to Hugh Despenser's capture. After this, the Lordship was returned to Rhys. When Rhys died, his son Philip inherited it. In 1337, a group of people inspecting the castle found many problems with it. However, some evidence suggests that its defenses were improved around this time.
Philip's brother, Einion Sais, was a strong military supporter of the new king, King Edward III. But King Edward III was convinced by the Lord of Brecknock that a place like Blaenllynfi should be ruled by a powerful lord. So, Edward III transferred the area to Humphrey de Bohun, the Earl of Hereford. This brought the Lordship of Blaenllynfi back under the control of the Lordship of Brecknock.
What Blaenllynfi Castle Looks Like Now
The castle covered an area of about 78 by 56 meters (about 85 by 61 yards). It was surrounded by a moat that measured about 120 by 100 meters (about 131 by 109 yards). Today, you can still see parts of the old walls, supports, and towers inside the moat. The current owner has done some digging to uncover more of the castle's remains. It is an important historical site.
