Caldicot Castle facts for kids
| Castell Cil-y-coed | |
The front entrance through the gatehouse
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| Established | 1100 |
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| Location | Caldicot, Monmouthshire, Wales |
| Type | Historic house museum |
Caldicot Castle (Welsh: Castell Cil-y-coed) is a large stone medieval castle in southeast Wales. It's located in the town of Caldicot, Monmouthshire. The castle was built around 1100 by the Norman earls of Hereford. It stands near where Harold Godwinson once had a Saxon castle. Caldicot Castle became a very important historic building on June 10, 1953.
The castle was owned by Thomas of Woodstock, a son of King Edward III of England. He owned it until he died in 1391. After his death, the castle went back to the Crown, meaning the King or Queen owned it.
Contents
The Early Days of Caldicot Castle
Caldicot is mentioned in the Domesday Book from 1086. This old book listed who owned land in England. At that time, Caldicot was a farming area, not a castle. It belonged to Durand of Gloucester. His nephew, Walter FitzRoger, later inherited the land. Walter's son, Milo, became the Earl of Hereford.
During the time of Henry I of England, the castle was likely a simple motte-and-bailey. This means it was a wooden fort on a raised earth mound, with a fenced courtyard below.
The Bohun Family Builds in Stone
Milo had five sons, but none of them had children. So, his oldest daughter, Margaret, inherited the land. She married Humphrey II de Bohun. Their son, Humphrey III de Bohun, probably built the stone parts of the castle. Around 1170, he added the stone keep (main tower) and the outer walls. The Bohun family owned Caldicot Castle for over 200 years.
Thomas of Woodstock and Royal Connections
In 1376, Caldicot Castle became part of the property of Thomas of Woodstock. He was the fifth son of King Edward III of England. Thomas got the castle when he married Alianore de Bohun.
When King Edward III died, his grandson, Richard II, became king. Richard was only nine years old. As the new king's uncle, Thomas helped advise him. He was also made Constable of England, a very important job. Thomas didn't visit Caldicot often. His main home was in Pleshey, Essex, closer to the king's court.
Changes to the Castle
In 1381, there was a big uprising called the Peasants' Revolt in Essex. This might be why Thomas decided to stay at Caldicot that year. While there, he ordered major new work on the castle. A new gatehouse and a drawbridge were built. At the back of the castle, a new tower was added. This tower had private rooms and is now called the Woodstock Tower. Two carved stones were placed at the base of this tower. One was marked 'Thomas' and the other 'Alianore'.
Over time, Thomas and King Richard's relationship became difficult. In 1397, King Richard ordered Thomas to be kidnapped and killed. After his death, the king took all of Thomas's property, including Caldicot Castle.
The Castle and the Kings of England
In 1399, Henry Bolingbroke took the throne from King Richard. He became King Henry IV. Henry's wife, Mary de Bohun, was Alianore's sister. Mary had died before Henry became king. Their son, born at Monmouth Castle, became a famous hero: Henry V. He was the winner of the Battle of Agincourt.
After Alianore and Mary's mother, Joan, died, the Bohun family's lands were divided again. Alianore's oldest daughter, Anne, lost Caldicot Castle to King Henry V. This made Caldicot part of the large Duchy of Lancaster. Later, Henry V's widow, Katherine of Valois, owned the castle. For much of the 1400s, the Herbert family managed it. In the 1500s, the Somerset family, who lived at Raglan, leased the castle.
Caldicot Castle Falls into Ruin and is Restored
Over many years, Caldicot Castle was not cared for. It fell into ruin and became mostly a farmyard. In 1857, Charles Lewis bought the castle. Then, in 1885, he sold it to Joseph Richard Cobb. Joseph Cobb started to restore the castle to make it his family home.
The Cobb family owned the castle from 1885 to 1964. Joseph Cobb's family stayed at the castle after he died. His son, Geoffrey Wheatly Cobb, and especially his daughter-in-law, Anna, continued the restoration work. In the early 1900s, many rooms were decorated with items from HMS Foudroyant. This was Nelson's first flagship, and G. Wheatly Cobb owned it at the end of its life.
G. Wheatly Cobb died in 1931. After Anna died in 1943, the castle went to Joseph's grandson, Geoffrey Cobb. He created apartments in three of the towers and parts of the gatehouse. These apartments were rented out.
In 1964, the local council bought the castle from the Cobb family for £12,000. They opened the building, including a small museum, to the public in 1965. After 1967, medieval-style banquets were held there, making it a fun place to visit.
Images for kids
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Caldicot Castle in 1800
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ca. 1830 engraving
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1838
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Engraving showing the south-west side of the castle in 1732
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The keep
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The gatehouse from within the castle, showing the 19th century rebuilding
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Re-enactment of a Civil War skirmish within the castle
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