Dinerth Castle facts for kids
The Castle of Dinerth is an old Welsh castle located near Aberarth, Ceredigion, in west Wales. It was finished around the year 1110. People also called it Hero Castle. This name might come from an old Norse word, hiro, which meant "king's carl" or a loyal follower of a king.
Contents
History of Dinerth Castle
The castle was likely built by a person named Richard de la Mare. He was a follower of Richard fitz Gilbert, an important Anglo-Norman lord. Anglo-Normans were people from England and Normandy (in France) who came to Wales. Evidence from old digs shows the castle was built on top of an even older defensive spot.
Battles and Changes of Hands
Dinerth Castle saw many battles!
- It was destroyed by Gruffydd ap Rhys, a Welsh prince. But it was probably rebuilt.
- Then, Owain Gwynedd, another powerful Welsh ruler, destroyed it again in 1136.
- For the next 50 years, the castle kept changing owners. It went from Hywel to Cadwaladr ap Gruffydd in 1144.
- Later, in 1158, Roger de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford, took control and put soldiers there.
- In 1164, Rhys ap Gruffydd, known as The Lord Rhys, destroyed it once more.
- The castle then belonged to Maelgwn ap Rhys. He lost it to his brother, Gruffydd ap Rhys II, but then got it back.
Why the Castle Was Taken Apart
Maelgwn later took the castle apart himself. He did this to stop Llywelyn the Great, a very powerful Welsh prince from Kingdom of Gwynedd, from taking his lands. Llywelyn did capture the area around the castle. He then gave Dinerth to the sons of Maelgwn's brother, Gruffudd, as he felt it was their right. After this, the castle site was left empty and forgotten.
What Remains at the Castle Site
The old wooden castle ruins are on a hill. It's about 1½ miles up the valley from the seaside town of Aberarth. The castle was built in a very smart spot. It's where the River Arth meets the Erthyg Brook. This means it had steep valleys on almost all sides, making it hard for enemies to attack. Only the east side had a deep ditch and a bank for defense.
Exploring the Castle Grounds
The whole castle area is quite large, covering about three hectares.
- You can still see two mounds. These probably held tall towers.
- There are also flat areas to the south. These were likely where the main buildings stood, including the great hall.
Today, old oak and beech trees cover the entire site. Many different kinds of plants grow there too.
Dinerth and King Arthur Legends
The Welsh name for the site, "Dinerth," means "Fort Bear." This, along with an old writing by a historian named Gildas, made some people think the castle might be linked to the famous King Arthur or his legendary court at Camelot. Gildas wrote about a "bear's lair" or "stronghold of the Bear."
The Real Meaning of the Name
However, it's more likely that the castle's name comes from the nearby River Arth. Also, the passage in Gildas's writing probably describes a different place. It's thought to be about the old hillfort of Dinerth at Bryn Euryn. This hillfort is above Llandrillo-yn-Rhos and was likely the kingdom of a "tyrant" king named Cuneglas from the Dark Ages. So, while the idea of King Arthur is exciting, the castle's name probably has a simpler explanation.
