Carreghofa Castle
| Carreghofa Castle | |
|---|---|
| Carreghofa, Wales, United Kingdom | |
 Carreghofa Hall, which is believed to sit on the exact site of Carreghofa Castle | |
  Carreghofa Castle | |
| Coordinates | 52°47′30.48″N 3°6′19.55″W / 52.7918000°N 3.1054306°WCoordinates: 52°47′30.48″N 3°6′19.55″W / 52.7918000°N 3.1054306°W |
| Site information | |
| Condition | ruins, archaeological site |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1101 |
| Fate | destroyed in 1236 |
Carreghofa Castle (Welsh: Castell Carreghwfa) was a Norman timber and masonry castle located in the Welsh village of Carreghofa, Powys.[1][2] Between its construction in 1101 and destruction in 1236, it was the site of many battles between rival Welsh and English forces.[3][4] Archaeological remains of the castle's perimeter were uncovered in the late 19th century and this is all that remain of the structure.[3][5]
Medieval Disputes[]
Carreghofa Castle was built in 1101 by Robert de Belleme in the North Wales border regions, without the permission of the newly crowned King Henry I.[3] In the following years the castle, among others like Bridgenorth Castle, was captured by King Henry I and transformed into a military base for English forces.[3][5] Carreghofa Castle was built on heavily disputed land, largely due to its location in the Welsh Marches. This was a politically tumultuous region in the medieval Kingdom of Powys, founded in the 5th century, which began experiencing increased threats from the east following the 1066 Norman Conquest of England.[6][7] In building Carreghofa Castle, Robert de Belleme was directly allying himself with the princes of Powys, the sons of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, against the English monarchy.[6]
This political tension is evidenced in the castles' frequent shift of ownership and alliances throughout its 12th century lifespan. Carreghofa was captured by the Welsh in 1163 with the help of the King of Gwynedd, before being lost again to King Henry II in 1165.[3][5] In this latter instance Owain Fychan, one of the Powys princes, was given permission to retain the castle after switching allegiance to the English monarch, though he was slain in 1187 during an attack on Carreghofa Castle by nephews Gwenwynwyen ap Owain and Cadwallon ap Owen.[3] A decade later in 1197 Gwenwynwyen, the second ruler of the southern Powys region, would be voluntarily given ownership of the castle by the English in exchange for surrendering Rhys ap Gruffudd to them.[3][5][6] At this time, Carreghofa Castle was likely also used for silver mining.[2] The castle would switch hands again to Robert de Vieuxpoint in 1212 after a series of Welsh defeats in the area. He is said to have rebuilt the castle.[5]
Carreghofa Castle is believed to have been destroyed a final time in the 1230s (approximately 1236) as part of Llewellyn ap Iorwerth’s campaigns against English rule in Wales.[3][5]
Rediscovery[]
The ruins of Carreghofa castle were re-discovered in 1871 when workmen uncovered an underground room and perimeter stone foundations.[3] Subsequently, reburied, the prominent earthworks are all that remain of the old Castle structure.[4] A 17th century farm complex, Carreghofa Hall, is believed to be built directly above the old castle and is considered a Grade II listed building.[1]
References[]
- ^ a b "Carreghofa Castle, Llanyblodwel, Shropshire". ancientmonuments.uk. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
- ^ a b "Carreghofa Castle (The Gatehouse Record)". www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Carreghofa – the lost castle of Powys' own Game of Thrones". County Times. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
- ^ a b "English". Coflein. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
- ^ a b c d e f "Carreghoffa Castle - History, Travel, and accommodation information". Britain Express. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
- ^ a b c "Powys (Kingdom and Lordship)". Powys Local History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
- ^ "Kings and Princes of Wales". Historic UK. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
- Castles in Wales