Newport Castle, Pembrokeshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Newport Castle |
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| General information | |
| Location | Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales |
| Coordinates | 52°00′51″N 4°49′58″W / 52.01417°N 4.83278°W |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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Newport Castle (which is Castell Trefdraeth in Welsh) is an interesting old castle in Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The very first castle on this spot was built way back in the 1200s. The building you can see today was built much later, in the 1800s. It's now a private home, so it's not open for visitors to explore.
Contents
The Castle's Early Days
After a Welsh ruler named Rhys ap Tewdwr died, his lands were taken over by the Normans. Most of northern Dyfed (a part of Wales) was claimed by a man named Martin de Turribus. He became the first "Marcher Lord" of a region called Kemes. A Marcher Lord was a powerful ruler who controlled lands along the border between England and Wales.
Martin's main base was at Nevern Castle. Later, his grandson, William fitz Martin, decided to move the main headquarters. In 1197, he left Nevern and started a new town called Newport. He then built Newport Castle there. This made Newport the new center for the Marcher Lordship.
Battles and Changes in the 1200s and 1300s
Newport Castle saw a lot of action in its early years.
- In 1215, a famous Welsh prince called Llywelyn the Great captured the castle.
- Later, in 1257, another Welsh leader, Llywelyn the Last, also took control of it.
However, the Fitz Martin family always managed to get their castle back. None of the very first castle built by William fitz Martin is left today. The oldest parts of the building we can still see were built in the late 1200s. This was after the castle was rebuilt following the attacks by the Llywelyn princes.
In 1326, the Lord of the castle, Martin, passed away without any children. This meant his sister, Joan, inherited the Lordship. So, the castle then belonged to Joan and her husband, James Audley.
Challenges in the 1400s and 1500s
The castle faced serious damage during the Glyndwr Rising. This was a big rebellion led by Owain Glyndwr against English rule in Wales, which started in the early 1400s.
Towards the end of the 1400s, the castle was temporarily taken over by the King. This happened in 1497 when the Lord Audley at the time, James, was found guilty of "high treason." This meant he was accused of betraying the King. Because of this, all his lands, including the castle, were seized.
However, the lands were given back to his son, John, in 1534. The very next year, a new law called the Laws in Wales Acts changed things. It officially ended the special status of Marcher Lordships.
In 1539, John sold Newport Castle. It was bought by a successful local lawyer named William Owen of Henllys. He was the father of a well-known historian, George Owen of Henllys.
New Life in the 1800s and Today
In 1859, a new three-story private house was built on the site of the castle's old gatehouse. This was part of a big renovation project by the owner at the time, Sir Thomas Lloyd. During these changes, one of the two towers that stood on either side of the gatehouse was taken down.
Luckily, three other towers at the corners of the building are still standing. Part of the original "curtain wall" (the outer wall of the castle) also remains. There's even a cool vaulted crypt (an underground room with an arched ceiling) next to the south-eastern tower.
Newport Castle was given a special "Grade I" listed status on January 16, 1952. This means it's considered a very important historic building. Today, the building is still privately owned and is not open to the public.
