CAERNARFON CASTLE

Caernarfonshire

Caernarfon Castle still reminds people of the investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales in 1969, despite over forty years passing.

In some ways this is appropriate, because Caernarfon was constructed for symbolic reasons as much as defensive ones.  A small motte had existed here for some centuries, but after Edward I's conquest of Wales the King started to construct a ring of Castles around North Wales which are generally regarded as the most sophisticated the World had ever seen - and as pure Castles go they were probably unsurpassed.  Caernarfon, standing as it does in the heart of the Welsh powerbase, was always intended to be hugely impressive - a symbol of Edward's power.

Edward had visited Constantinople on the Eighth Crusade and was impressed by the City Walls. They inspired Caernarfon in no small way, and even today it gives the impression of being made up mostly of walls, despite having 13 towers.  Unlike Edward's other Castles it doesn't possess the typical concentric plan - rather it is a long thin enclosure (not entirely unreminiscent of Framlingham Castle in Suffolk but with circular rather than square towers).

Madog ap Llywelyn attacked the unfinished Castle in 1294/5, causing some damage. Edward pressed on with construction having to virtually bribe English craftsmen to the wilds of North Wales because the native Welsh couldn't be trusted (unsurprisingly).

By 1304 the Castle was still incomplete and was never properly finished, the north western part of the Castle still possessing very low walls.  The dominant feature is the Eagle Tower (centre picture) which sits at the western extreme of the Castle.

The Castle is owned by CADW (Welsh Heritage) and is open all year around.

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2018