Dolbadarn Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dolbadarn Castle |
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| Castell Dolbadarn | |
| Gwynedd, Wales | |
Dolbadarn Castle
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 Dolbadarn Castle
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| Coordinates | 53°07′00″N 4°06′51″W / 53.1166°N 4.1142°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Cadw |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | Ruined |
| Site history | |
| Built | Early 13th century |
| Built by | Llywelyn the Great |
| Materials | Slate stone |
| Events | 1283 invasion of North Wales |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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Dolbadarn Castle (Welsh: Castell Dolbadarn) is an old fortress built by the Welsh prince Llywelyn the Great. It was constructed in the early 1200s at the bottom of the Llanberis Pass in northern Wales. This castle was very important for both military reasons and as a sign of Llywelyn's power.
The castle has a large stone tower called a keep. A historian named Richard Avent says it's "the finest surviving example of a Welsh round tower." In 1284, King Edward I of England took over Dolbadarn. He even took some of its wood to help build his new castle at Caernarfon. Dolbadarn Castle was used as a large house for a while, but then it became a ruin. In the 1700s and 1800s, it became a popular spot for artists. Today, Cadw owns and manages it as a tourist attraction. It is also a protected historic building.
Contents
History of Dolbadarn Castle
Building a Welsh Fortress (1220s–1240s)
Dolbadarn Castle was built by Llywelyn the Great around the 1220s or 1230s. It stands at the base of the Llanberis Pass, looking over Llyn Padarn lake in North Wales. Traditionally, Welsh princes didn't build castles. Instead, they used open palaces called llysoedd, or courts.
From the late 1000s, the Normans started moving into Wales. They took land in the north and created a controlled area in the south called the Welsh Marches. In the 1100s, a few castles made of timber and earth began to appear.
Llywelyn the Great first ruled the area of Gwynedd. But he became much more powerful during his reign. By the early 1200s, he had influence over most of Wales. Llywelyn faced challenges, like the threat from the English kings. He also needed to keep control over the Welsh people.
To help with this, Llywelyn built Castell y Bere, a new kind of stone Welsh castle, in the 1220s. Soon after, he started building Dolbadarn Castle. He built the first stone parts, including two square stone towers.
Why Dolbadarn's Location Mattered
The castle's location was important for two main reasons. First, it controlled a key mountain pass. Second, Llywelyn might have wanted to show his power as the lord of Wales's mountains and coasts. Some of his castles were placed to send this political message. It's also possible that Llywelyn built his castle on top of an older fort. This older fort might have been built by Maelgwn Gwynedd, a king from the 500s. However, no remains of such a fort have been found.
Llywelyn also made alliances with powerful lords. He married his oldest son, Dafydd, to Isabella. She was the daughter of William de Braose, a strong lord in the south. These Marcher Lords built stone castles with round keeps and strong outer walls. After Dafydd's marriage, Llywelyn likely started a second building phase at Dolbadarn. This was probably in the 1240s. He added these new features to the castle. He wanted to use the latest military designs. He also wanted his castle to be as grand as those of his new allies.
Changes and Conflicts (1240–1300)
After Llywelyn the Great died in 1240, Gwynedd's power weakened. Many of its eastern lands were taken by Henry III of England in 1247. Llywelyn's grandson, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, took power in 1255. He imprisoned his brother Owain ap Gruffudd. Llywelyn ap Gruffudd then expanded his power across Wales.
Owain was eventually freed in 1277. Historians have debated where he was held. A famous poem by Hywel Foel ap Griffri describes Owain's long imprisonment in a round tower. Many historians believe this refers to the keep at Dolbadarn.
The English Takeover
The conflict between the Welsh princes and the English kings continued. This happened during the reign of King Edward I. In 1282, Llywelyn fought his last battle against Edward. Llywelyn died near Builth in December. His brother, Dafydd ap Gruffydd, took over. But in 1283, he was forced south into Snowdonia. By May, his government was based at Dolbadarn Castle.
Edward sent 7,000 soldiers to capture Dafydd. Dafydd was finally caught and executed in October. Norman forces then took over Dolbadarn.
King Edward wanted to stop any future rebellions in North Wales. He began building many new castles and walled towns. He replaced the old Welsh way of governing with a new system. This new system was run from Caernarfon. Dolbadarn Castle was no longer needed. Within two years, the Normans were using timber from Dolbadarn to build Caernarfon Castle. This showed both their practical power and their control over an important Welsh prince's property.
Dolbadarn's Later Years (14th – 21st Centuries)
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Parts of the castle were still used as a large house into the 1300s. But by the 1700s, Dolbadarn Castle was a ruin and empty. However, from the 1760s onwards, it became a popular subject for painters. These artists were interested in the popular landscape styles of the Sublime and the Picturesque.
Artists often painted the castle in the middle of the scene. This allowed viewers to see its ruined shape against the lakes and mountains of Snowdonia. Sometimes, artists changed the landscape a bit to make it look more dramatic. J. M. W. Turner's 1800 painting, Dolbadarn Castle, showed the castle with light behind it. This painting became very famous. Paintings of the castle by Richard Wilson and Paul Sandby are also important artworks from that time.
In 1941, Sir Michael Duff gave the castle to the State. Today, Cadw maintains it. It is protected as a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument. With recent political changes in Wales, the history of Dolbadarn Castle and other Welsh castles has become more important. Cadw plans to focus more on sharing the history of these castles and the Welsh princes.
Castle Design and Features
Dolbadarn Castle has a courtyard surrounded by several towers and a round keep. The castle is built from purple and green slate stone. Most of it was built using a dry stone method, meaning without mortar, except for the keep. The courtyard follows the natural shape of the hill. It was protected by a curtain wall. This wall was probably about 15 feet (5 meters) high originally. Now, it's only about 3 feet (1 meter) high at most. Of all the castle buildings, only the keep still stands very tall.
The Impressive Keep
The keep is 46 feet (14 meters) high today. It was designed like the early 13th-century English round towers found in the south of the Welsh Marches. Like other Welsh-built towers, its entrance is on the first floor, not at ground level. It might have had a porch protecting it. The keep also had a portcullis, a heavy gate that could be lowered. This would have been pulled up past the window on the tower's second floor.
The castle's floors are gone now. But you can still climb the internal staircase to the upper floor. This second floor was likely the main room in the keep. It had a large fireplace and a toilet. Originally, the keep would have had a parapet (a low wall) and battlements (notches for defense), but these are now destroyed. Historian Richard Avent calls it "the finest surviving example of a Welsh round tower."
Other Castle Buildings
The rectangular west tower was a short defensive structure. It was built to protect the more exposed western side of the ridge. A similar tower in the south guards the castle's entrance. At the north end of the castle is the hall, which stretches across the courtyard. In the east corner is another building. This was probably built by the English in the late 1200s. The hall is quite large, about 50 by 27 feet (15 by 8 meters). However, these buildings are simpler than those common in England at the time. English castles often had a more complex layout with a hall, chamber, and service block.
Images for kids
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Plan of the castle: A – South Tower; B – Keep; C – West Tower; D – East Building; E – Hall
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The keep, seen across the hall and courtyard
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J. M. W. Turner's painting Dolbadarn Castle, 1800.
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"Dolbadarn Castle, Llanberis, Wales", ca. 1890 - 1900.
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The castle seen from the north-west, showing (near to far) the hall, the courtyard, the west tower, the east building, the keep and the south tower
See also
In Spanish: Castillo Dolbadarn para niños
