Beaumaris Castle, Beaumaris, United Kingdom

Beaumaris Castle, Anglesey, Wales, was built as part of Edward I's campaign to conquer north Wales after 1282. Plans were probably first made to construct the castle in 1284, but this was delayed due to lack of funds and work only began in 1295 following the Madog ap Llywelyn uprising. A substantial workforce was employed in the initial years under the direction of James of St George. Edward's invasion of Scotland soon diverted funding from the project, however, and work stopped, only recommencing after an invasion scare in 1306. When work finally ceased around 1330 a total of £15,000 had been spent, a huge sum for the period, but the castle remained incomplete.

Beaumaris Castle was taken by Welsh forces in 1403 during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr, but recaptured by royal forces in 1405.

In March 1592, the Welsh Roman Catholic priest and martyr William Davies was imprisoned in the castle, and was eventually hanged, drawn and quartered there on 27 July 1593.

Following the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642, the castle was held by forces loyal to Charles I, holding out until 1646 when it surrendered to the Parliamentary armies. Despite forming part of a local royalist rebellion in 1648, the castle escaped slighting and was garrisoned by Parliament, but fell into ruin around 1660, eventually forming part of a stately home and park in the 19th century. In the 21st century, the ruined castle is still a tourist attraction.

The fortification is built of local stone, with a moated outer ward guarded by twelve towers and two gatehouses, overlooked by an inner ward with two large, D-shaped gatehouses and six massive towers. The inner ward was designed to contain ranges of domestic buildings and accommodation able to support two major households. The south gate could be reached by ship, allowing the castle to be directly supplied by sea. UNESCO considers Beaumaris to be one of 'the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe', and it is classed as a World Heritage Site.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

K Elf (14 months ago)
love love love. This castle was a fun one to tour as there is so much intact. There are so many places within its walls, including narrow passageways and other little gems. We spent hours here just enjoying seeing everything there was to see!

Connor Butler (16 months ago)
A must see castle. This was a great visit as you're able to still explore a large proportion of the castle both inside and out. There are some really nice views from the walls of the castle. The staff were extremely friendly and welcoming and there's a nice little gift shop. The entry price for an adult was £8.30 and I'd say it was good value for money, we spent at least 2 hours exploring. The tickets are day tickets so you can come and go from the castle as you please.

Alan Holt (16 months ago)
This another well preserved Castle built by an English king to keep the Welsh under control. The castle is really well kept, externally there is plenty of space and lots of activities to keep children busy, inside the castle the theme of keeping the kids interested is maintained. There are great views from the castle walls and lots of space to wander, there are plenty of benches where you can have a few quiet moments during a busy day and there is lots of places for picnics and for children to play. Well worth a visit.

Howard Cragg (17 months ago)
Absolutely love Beaumaris Castle. My favourite of the castles in North Wales, stunning flowing curved towers. Idyllic setting with incredible views. The chapel has the most amazing acoustics. Gift shop could be a bit better. Public toilets 1 minute walk from main entrance. Loads of good pubs and fish and chip shops within a couple of minutes walk.

Sara Dewey (20 months ago)
A beautiful, amazing castle! Fantastic views from up on the walkways/battlements, and lots of interesting nooks and crannies! Dogs are allowed (ground floor only) which is a bonus....Lucy the dog enjoyed herself too ☺️. Highly recommended.

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The Broch of Gurness is an Iron Age broch village. Settlement here began sometime between 500 and 200 BC. At the centre of the settlement is a stone tower or broch, which once probably reached a height of around 10 metres. Its interior is divided into sections by upright slabs. The tower features two skins of drystone walls, with stone-floored galleries in between. These are accessed by steps. Stone ledges suggest that there was once an upper storey with a timber floor. The roof would have been thatched, surrounded by a wall walk linked by stairs to the ground floor. The broch features two hearths and a subterranean stone cistern with steps leading down into it. It is thought to have some religious significance, relating to an Iron Age cult of the underground.

The remains of the central tower are up to 3.6 metres high, and the stone walls are up to 4.1 metres thick.

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