phase one: c. 1230 phase two between 1255 and 1282 phase three: 1283–1292, 1307–1327
Built by
phase one: Llywelyn ab Iorwerth phase two: Llywelyn ap Gruffudd phase three: Edward I and Edward II
Battles/wars
Conquest of Wales by Edward I
Rebellion of Madog ap Llywelyn
Rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr
Garrison information
Past commanders
Sir William Leyburn (constable fl. 1284)
Syr Hywel y Fwyall (c. 1359 – c. 1381)
Garrison
60, including 10 crossbowmen, in 1283–84
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name
Criccieth Castle
Designated
2 August 1949
Reference no.
4396[1]
Scheduled monument
Official name
Castell Cricieth
Reference no.
CN015[2]
Scheduled monument
Official name
Criccieth Castle, Outer Bank Defences
Reference no.
CN173[3]
Criccieth Castle (Welsh: Castell Cricieth; [kastɛɬˈkrɪkjɛθ]) is a ruined thirteenth-century castle in Criccieth, Gwynedd, Wales. It is located on a rocky headland overlooking Tremadog Bay and consists of an inner ward almost surrounded by an outer ward. The twin-towered inner gatehouse is the most prominent remaining feature and survives to almost its full height, as does the inner curtain wall. The outer curtain wall, the inner ward buildings, and the castle's other three towers are significantly more ruinous, and in places survive only as foundations.
The castle was begun in the 1230s by Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, the prince of Gwynedd, who probably built the inner ward and gatehouse. It was extended by his grandson, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, who probably constructed the outer ward. The castle was captured by Edward I of England in 1283 during his conquest of Wales and afterwards repaired and improved, work which included heightening the towers and inner gatehouse. The castle was besieged in 1294–1295 during an unsuccessful revolt against English rule by Madog ap Llywelyn, and further repairs took place under Edward II in the early fourteenth century. It was captured in 1404 during another unsuccessful revolt, led by Owain Glyndŵr. It may have been burnt after the latter attack and was certainly ruinous by the 1450s. Until it was destroyed the castle was frequently used as a prison, housing high-status prisoners of the princes of Gwynedd and Scottish prisoners of Edward I.
The castle was subsequently left to decay, and was considered a romantic ruin by the time it was sketched by J. M. W. Turner in 1798. It was sold by the Crown in 1858 but returned to state care in 1933, after which extensive consolidation and archaeological excavations took place. The castle is now maintained by Cadw, the historic environment service of the Welsh Government, and is open to the public. It was designated a grade I listed building in 1949, and both the castle proper and its outer defences are scheduled monuments.
CricciethCastle (Welsh: Castell Cricieth; [kastɛɬ ˈkrɪkjɛθ]) is a ruined thirteenth-century castle in Criccieth, Gwynedd, Wales. It is located on a rocky...
Attractions include the ruins of CricciethCastle, which have extensive views over the town and surrounding countryside. Nearby on Castle Street is Cadwalader's...
English-held towns were razed and Harlech, along with CricciethCastle and Aberystwyth Castle, were besieged that winter. Fresh supplies were sent from...
Windsor, HRH the Duke of (1951). A King's Story. London: Cassell and Co. "Criccieth Church of Christ and David Lloyd George". Churches of Christ. Retrieved...
for Conwy Town Walls Cadw website for CricciethCastle Cadw website for Cymer Abbey Cadw website for Denbigh Castle Cadw website for Denbigh Friary Cadw...
Wales operate northbound services to Pwllheli via Harlech, Porthmadog and Criccieth; eastbound services travel to Birmingham International via Tywyn, Machynlleth...
British royal residences are palaces, castles and houses which are occupied by members of the British royal family in the United Kingdom. The current...
(Meirionydd) in which it was sited. The very minor remains of a mediaeval castle (known variously as Castell Deudraeth, Castell Gwain Goch and Castell Aber...
Dolbadarn Castle (English: /dɒlˈbædɑːn/ dol-BAD-an; Welsh: Castell Dolbadarn Welsh pronunciation: [kastɛɬ dɔl'badarn]) is a fortification built by the...
Meirion-Dwyfor Coleg Menai Schools Castles and forts Caernarfon Castle Castell y Bere CricciethCastle Dolbadarn Castle Harlech Castle Fort Belan Rivers Afon Aber...
crest above the shield was a generic castle, representing Caernarfon, Conwy and CricciethCastles. Behind the castle was the badge of the heir apparent:...
Meirionydd District of the 1974 County of Gwynedd. Its landmark Harlech Castle was begun in 1283 by Edward I of England, captured by Owain Glyndŵr, and...
the Great (c. 1173–1240), King of Gwynedd, was born at nearby Dolwyddelan Castle William Edward Oakeley (1828–1912), the owner of the Oakeley Quarry John...
Llywelyn the Great. He was imprisoned together with his father in CricciethCastle in 1239 by his uncle Dafydd ap Llywelyn, and accompanied his father...
Meirion-Dwyfor Coleg Menai Schools Castles and forts Caernarfon Castle Castell y Bere CricciethCastle Dolbadarn Castle Harlech Castle Fort Belan Rivers Afon Aber...
Meirion-Dwyfor Coleg Menai Schools Castles and forts Caernarfon Castle Castell y Bere CricciethCastle Dolbadarn Castle Harlech Castle Fort Belan Rivers Afon Aber...
Llywelyn, and later seized him and his eldest son Owain and held them in CricciethCastle. The chronicler of Brut y Tywysogion records that in 1240, "the lord...
plus the hamlets of Rhoslan and Pencaenewydd. The village lies between Criccieth and Pwllheli at the point where the A497 crosses the Afon Dwyfor. It had...
Meirion-Dwyfor Coleg Menai Schools Castles and forts Caernarfon Castle Castell y Bere CricciethCastle Dolbadarn Castle Harlech Castle Fort Belan Rivers Afon Aber...
of the town is the Lôn Eifion cycle path, which leads to Bryncir, near Criccieth. The route provides views into the Snowdonia mountains, down along the...
(1902–1985), RAF officer, writer; originated the Welsh Harlequin duck in Criccieth Sir Dave Brailsford (born 1964), cycling coach; grew up in Deiniolen,...
Carn Madryn, making the structure older than Carnarvon Castle and CricciethCastle. The Tudor castle was erected around 1490 during the reign of King Henry...
twinned with the Italian town of Morbegno in Lombardy. The ruins of Dolbadarn Castle, which were painted by Richard Wilson and J. M. W. Turner, stand above the...
Below is a list of all 171 GWR Castle Class engines, built between August 1923 and August 1950. Five of these were converted to burn oil for a short period...
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