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Mike Salter has written 78 reviews in 2 countries.
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Castles & Palaces in Wales, United Kingdom
This is the largest and most impressive of the castles of the lordship of the Three Castles (the others are Skenfrith and Grosmont, both also worth a visit). The inner ward has a 12th century curtain wall and footings of a former square tower keep lying on a large moated mound on a hilltop. There are footings of the domestic buildings. In the 1250s the castle was considerably strengthened against the Welsh by adding six round towers, two of them flanking the gateway, and an outer court with its own gatehouse and four towers. |
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Castles & Palaces in Wales, United Kingdom
Built by the Marshal earls of Pembroke between 1190 and 1245 and delightfully set on a rocky coastal promontory, the castle has a triangular inner ward containing a fine circular keep covered by a dome vault and several domestic buildings and an impressive hall block. The larger outer ward has a good gatehouse, lofty curtain walls, and five round towers, some restored in 1930s after being slighted in 1648. There is access to almost all wall-walks and tower summits. Most of the circuit of the town walls also still survives. |
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Castles & Palaces in West Country, United Kingdom
This is the most complete of the many small castles built by minor Norman knights in South Wales. A few years ago it was restored and refurnished in an authentic late medieval fashion and it is a delight to visit. Lying close to an old church, it has a 12th century keep, a 13th century curtain wall, a 14th century gatehouse, a 15th century main hall, and an L-shaped house of the 16th century and later. |
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Castles & Palaces in Wales, United Kingdom
Set on a hill are impressive ruins of a fortified palace begun by Sir William Thomas c1435. Much of it was built by his son, Sir William Herbert, who became Earl of Pembroke, but work continued on it until the mid 16th century. There are several hexagonal towers with machicolated parapets, and a gateway between two such towers. The largest and highest tower (access to top) has its own tiny surrounding court with turrets with gunloops and a wet moat. It was partly destroyed after a long siege by Parliamentary forces in 1646. |
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Castles & Palaces in Wales, United Kingdom
Building the spacious 13th century curtain wall which encloses the top of a ridge above the beach must have strained the modest financial resources of the de Barri family to the limit. Only later were they able to afford to heighten it. There are two round corner towers and a gatehouse at the NE end, whilst the SW end has a set of modest domestic buildings with a 12th century hall-block at their core. The walls and towers are partly covered by flowers and vegetation and have seen only a modest amount of repair and restoration. |
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