Llandovery Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Llandovery Castle |
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| Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales | |
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 Llandovery Castle
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| Coordinates | 51°59′33″N 3°47′43″W / 51.9924°N 3.7952°W |
| Type | Castle |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Ruins |
| Site history | |
| Built by | Richard Fitz Pons? |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Designated | 3 August 1966 |
Llandovery Castle (which is called Castell Llanymddyfri in Welsh) is an old castle ruin in Wales. It's located in the town of Llandovery, in an area called Carmarthenshire. The castle sits on a small hill, looking over the River Towy and the land around it. People from Normandy first built a castle here in the early 1100s. Later, it was rebuilt using stone. Sadly, the castle was burned down in the early 1500s and was never fixed. Today, it stands as a historic ruin.
Contents
The Castle's Story
Who Built Llandovery Castle?
A Norman knight named Richard Fitz Pons was given control of the land called Cantref Bychan in 1116. He probably started building the first castle here that same year. It was a type of castle called a motte-and-bailey castle. This kind of castle had a big mound of earth (the motte) with a tower on top, and a fenced area (the bailey) below.
Battles and Changes of Hands
Over many years, the castle was often fought over. It was repeatedly taken by the Welsh rulers, known as the Princes of Deheubarth, and then taken back by the English.
For example, King Henry II of England spent a lot of money fixing the castle between 1159 and 1162. But even after all those repairs, the Welsh still managed to capture it.
The castle finally fell to the English army under King Edward I in 1277. However, Welsh forces, led by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, briefly took it back just five years later.
Rebuilding and Final Destruction
After being recaptured by the English, the castle was given to John Giffard, 1st Baron Giffard. He is thought to be the one who rebuilt the castle using strong stone.
Over time, the castle passed through different noble families, like the Audley family and then the Touchet family. King Henry IV of England even visited the castle in 1400.
Just three years later, in 1403, the castle was attacked during a big Welsh rebellion led by Owain Glyndŵr. The castle was burned down in another rebellion in 1532, led by Hywel ap Rhys. After this, it was never rebuilt, and that's why it's a ruin today.
What Llandovery Castle Looks Like Now
Even though it's a ruin, you can still see parts of the old castle.
- The main tower, called the keep, is a large D-shaped building on the western side.
- The gatehouse, which was the entrance to the castle, has two towers on its north side. There's also a tower that used to hold a well for water.
- You can also see parts of the curtain wall. This was a strong outer wall that went all around the castle, protecting it. There was also a ditch around the wall, which is now filled in.
