Usk Castle facts for kids
Usk Castle (which is Castell Brynbuga in Welsh) is an old castle site in the town of Usk in south east Wales, United Kingdom. It's considered a very important historic building. Inside the castle grounds, you'll also find Castle House, which was once part of the castle's main entrance.
Contents
Where is Usk Castle?
Usk Castle sits just north of the town of Usk. It's on a hill, looking down over the streets and the main town square.
The First Norman Castle
.jpg)
Usk Castle and the town around it were probably built in 1120. This was a bit later than other Norman castles in the area, like Monmouth Castle. But this spot was important even before the Normans arrived. The Romans had a fort here before they moved it south to Caerleon.
The castle is first mentioned in history in 1138. At that time, the Welsh captured it. It went back to Norman control, but the Welsh took it again in 1174. This happened during a time of fighting in this part of Wales, known as the Welsh Marches.
Powerful Lords and Battles
The Normans needed to control this area. So, they brought in powerful lords called Marcher Lords. One of them, Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare, tried to make the castle stronger against Welsh attacks. But he was attacked and killed in 1136. The Welsh then captured Usk Castle again in 1184.
Another important Marcher Lord, William Marshal, also worked to strengthen Usk Castle. Later, Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford, who also owned Usk Castle, died in a big battle. The castle remained peaceful for a while after that. In 1352, a famous person named Adam of Usk was born here.
The Owain Glyndŵr Rebellion
Between 1400 and 1405, a major Welsh rebellion led by Owain Glyndŵr caused a lot of trouble in the area. Owain Glyndŵr's forces attacked Usk town in 1402. A big fight called the Battle of Pwll Melyn happened nearby. The region only became peaceful again thanks to a Welsh warrior named Davy Gam. He was an ally of King Henry IV of England and Henry V.
The Castle's Later Years
After the rebellion, Usk Castle became part of the lands owned by the Duchy of Lancaster. With peace restored, no more big changes or repairs were made to the castle. It slowly started to fall apart. It survived the English Civil War without too much damage. Later, in the 1680s, the old gatehouse was turned into a house.
Usk Castle Today
Today, a good part of Usk Castle still stands. You can see interesting features like the dovecote tower. Even though it's a private home for the Humphreys family, they often hold special events there during the summer.
A group that re-enacts early medieval times, called Regia Anglorum, has used the castle for their training for many years.
Images for kids
-
Garrison Tower from the inner ward
-
An old picture of Usk Castle from 1838
-
Castle House, which was once the castle's gatehouse, is now a private home.
