Mold Castle facts for kids

The outer bailey of Mold Castle

Mold Castle (called Welsh: Castell yr Wyddgrug in Welsh) is an old castle in Mold, a town in Northeast Wales. It sits on a hill called Bailey Hill. This castle was built around the year 1072. It was likely built by a Norman knight named Robert de Montalt. He was probably following orders from Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester. Today, not much of the castle remains. You can mostly see the big mound where the main part of the castle once stood. It is very close to St Mary's Church, which is a church from the 1400s, right in the middle of town.

The Castle's Story

Mold Castle was built on top of an even older earthwork. An earthwork is a large mound or ditch made by people. This castle was a special type called a motte-and-bailey fortress. It was built around 1072. It was probably built by Robert de Montalt. His family came from a place called Monthault in Brittany. Brittany was not part of France back then. Some people think the family name "Montalt" meant "high hill." This might be why they built the castle on Bailey Hill.

How Mold Got Its Name

It is thought that the name "Montalt" might have changed over many years. It could have become the name "Mold." So, Bailey Hill, where the castle stands, might have given the town its name.

Battles and Changes

Mold Castle was captured in 1146 by Owain Gwynedd. He was a powerful Welsh prince. The castle changed hands many times after that. It was controlled by the Welsh for a long time. This was during the rule of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, another important Welsh leader. The castle was used for defense until the 1200s.

During the English Civil War, Mold Castle was important again. It was first taken by the Parliamentarians. Then, the Royalists took it back. Finally, it fell to Oliver Cromwell's forces.

What You See Today

The castle site later belonged to the Mostyn family. In 1790, they built a stone wall around it. They also planted trees and turned the area into a garden. In 1890, Mold Council bought the site.

A Place of Remembrance

The council created a memorial garden there. This garden honors the soldiers from Mold who died in World War I. The castle site is now part of this special garden. What you can see today is a cone-shaped mound. This mound once held the main part of the castle, called the motte. It is surrounded by a rectangular area called a bailey.

Recent Discoveries

In 2020, archaeologists did some digging at the site. They are people who study old things. The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust found parts of a large stone wall. This wall was on the edge of the inner bailey. It might have been part of the castle's defenses. Or, it could have been part of a building inside the castle walls.