Castell Aberlleiniog facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aberlleiniog Castle |
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| Castell Aberlleiniog | |
| Anglesey Near Llangoed in Wales, United Kingdom |
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Two of the castle's towers and keep wall in 2009, after restoration had begun
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 Aberlleiniog Castle
Location in Wales
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| Coordinates | 3166-2:GB-WLS 53°17′33″N 4°4′38″W / 53.29250°N 4.07722°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Ruined, Undergoing Restoration |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1080-1099 |
| Built by | Hugh d'Avranches |
| In use | Late 11th Century-mid 17th Century |
Castell Aberlleiniog (which means Castle of the River Lleiniog) is an old fortress in Wales. It is located near the village of Llangoed on the Isle of Anglesey. This special type of castle is called a 'motte and bailey'.
A powerful leader named Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester built the castle. This happened between the years 1080 and 1099. Castell Aberlleiniog sits on a very steep hill. It is about two miles away from Beaumaris Castle.
Contents
History of Castell Aberlleiniog
Why the Castle Was Built
Castell Aberlleiniog was built in a very important spot. It is right next to the Menai Strait. This is a narrow stretch of water that separates Anglesey from mainland Wales. On the other side of the strait was another Norman castle at Abergwyngregyn. This shows that the Normans wanted to see and communicate with their other castles easily.
Hugh d'Avranches, the 1st Earl of Chester, probably built it. He conquered an area called Gwynedd in 1088. Building castles like this helped him control the land.
Early Battles and Changes
Not many old papers tell us about what happened at the castle. But we do know about one big event. In 1094, a Welsh leader named Gruffudd ap Cynan attacked the castle. He had just returned from Ireland.
His attack was successful. About 124 Norman soldiers defending the castle died in the battle. Gruffudd later managed to force Hugh d'Avranches out of Anglesey. After this, the Welsh people controlled Anglesey for about 200 years. This lasted until King Edward I arrived. We don't know if the Welsh used Castell Aberlleiniog during their time.
From Wood to Stone
The first castle built by the Normans was made of wood. That wooden structure is now long gone. At some point before the mid-1600s, a new castle was built using stone.
However, this stone castle was later destroyed. This happened in the mid-17th century. A person named Thomas Cheadle, who was in charge of Beaumaris, destroyed it.
Restoration and Today
Today, the castle is mostly in ruins. But work began in 2008 to restore parts of it. As of 2016, the site is open for people to visit.
You can still see parts of the old stone castle. The main part, called the keep, had wide walls. These walls had a narrow outer layer that went up to a protective barrier. Each corner of the keep had a round tower. You can still see the remains of these towers today.
