Kenfig Castle facts for kids
Kenfig Castle (which is Castell Cynffig in Welsh) is a castle that is now in ruins. You can find it in the Bridgend County Borough area of Wales. This castle became very important after the Normans from England invaded Wales in the late 1000s.
Contents
History of Kenfig Castle
Building the Castle
People first mentioned a castle at Kenfig around the year 1080. A Welsh leader named Iestyn ap Gwrgan might have made it stronger. However, this was probably not the same castle that we see ruins of today.
The castle we know was a very important Norman stronghold. It was built by Robert, Earl of Gloucester in the early 1100s. It stood on a raised area, with a river flowing on its west and north sides.
What the Castle Looked Like
The main part of the castle was a tall, square tower called a keep. This keep was about 14 meters (46 feet) tall and stood on its own. It had an entrance on its southwest side.
The keep was a strong and well-built structure. It had stone supports, called buttresses, on each corner. There were also buttresses in the middle of each side. Inside, the castle had a large hall and other rooms for daily use.
South of the main tower was an area called the bailey. This part was protected by a bank of earth and a ditch. Kenfig Castle was a center for managing the local area. By 1183, a small town had grown up next to it.
Attacks and Changes
The Welsh people attacked Kenfig Castle many times. It was captured and damaged at least six times. These attacks happened in 1167, 1183, 1232, 1242, 1294, and 1295.
- In 1294 and 1295, Morgan ap Maredudd attacked it during a big Welsh uprising led by Madog ap Llywelyn.
- It was attacked again in 1316 during another revolt led by Llywelyn Bren.
In the early 1300s, the castle was rebuilt and made much stronger. The old earth banks were removed to make the courtyard flatter. A strong outer wall, called a curtain wall, was built around the castle. A large gatehouse was also added, which led towards the town. The main tower (the keep) was also greatly repaired and improved.
Lost to the Sands
By the late 1400s, both the old town of Kenfig and the castle were left empty. This happened because of huge sand dunes moving in from the coast. The sand slowly covered everything.
Around 1539, a writer named John Leland visited the area. He wrote that the village and castle were "in ruine and almost shokid (choked) and devourid with the sandes." This means they were almost completely buried by the sand.
In the 1920s and early 1930s, people dug away a lot of the sand. This was part of an archaeological dig to learn more about the castle. However, the sand later returned and covered the site again. Today, only the very top of the castle's main tower can be seen sticking out of the sand dunes.
