Carmarthen Castle by AS
Carmarthen Castle
Carmarthen castle originates from the beginning of the 12th century and replaced an earlier fortification located further down the River Towy. Later passing into the hands of the Crown and becoming the administrative centre of south west Wales. Captured and destroyed by Llywelyn the Great in 1215 it was recaptured by William Marshall the younger, earl of Pembroke in 1223 - the first masonry castle may have been constructed at this date.
The remains of Carmarthen Castle comprises a stone-revetted motte, twin-towered gatehouse, a south west corner tower and wall turret east of this together with short sections of curtain wall, all to the west of the site. The motte walls have two small half-round turrets to the north and paired buttresses representing the site of a further turret to west, the majority of this fabric is the result of 19th century reconstruction.
The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval defensive practices. The monument is well-preserved and an important relic of the medieval landscape. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of both structural evidence and intact associated deposits.
Created: 18 March 2021 Edited: 29 November 2023
Carmarthen Castle LiDAR Map
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0
Local History around Carmarthen Castle
There are some historic monuments around including:
Garn-Fawr Castle Mound Carmarthen CastleStanding Stone NE of Halfway HouseCarmarthen Roman Town Defences (part of) Castell y Domen, Gwempa Banc Round Barrow Defended Enclosure 300m W of Pen y GarThe Bulwarks (Civil War)Ty Cwm Tawel Anti-invasion Defences Pen Celli Standing Stone Is-Coed-Uchaf Standing Stone Pant-Glas Castle Mound Rhyd-Lydan Cromlech Garn-Fawr Tumuli & EnclosureCynwyl Elfed Anti-invasion Defences Trebersed Moated Site Carmarthen Roman Fort (part of) Carmarthen Roman Town (part of)Defended Enclosure 350m S of ClungwynBwlch-Bychan Round Barrow Merlins Hill Hillfort Clos-Teg Standing Stones Cwrt Malle moated site, LlangynogStanding Stone NNW of Clomendy St John's Priory Meini Llwydion Burial ChamberRoman Amphitheatre.
