A LITTLE BIT OF NORMAN HISTORY, SOME VERY OLD DOORS & A FRIKKN IMPRESSIVE CASTLE!
GENERAL INFO
π LOCATION: Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales
π΄ COUNTRY: Wales, UK
π° TYPE: Norman medieval stone castle and historic fortress
π
PERIOD: Construction began in 1067, with later medieval and Tudor additions
π FOUNDED BY: William FitzOsbern, Earl of Hereford
ποΈ CONSTRUCTION: Limestone ridge, stone defensive walls, towers, fortified gatehouses and a Great Tower
βοΈ KNOWN FOR: Norman conquest, medieval architecture, Civil War sieges and political prisoners
πͺ FAMOUS FEATURE: Some of Europe’s oldest surviving castle doors, dating to the 12th c.
ποΈ HISTORIC STATUS: Grade I listed building and Scheduled Monument
π
MY VISIT: May 2005
β° TIME NEEDED: Approx. 1β2 hours
ποΈ ENTRANCE: Β£10.40 per adult
π OPENING HOURS: Seasonal, generally 9:30 amβ5:00 pm
CHECK IT OUT!!
One of the things that makes Chepstow Castle so special is its dramatic position overlooking the River Wye!
The castle stretches along the limestone cliffs, with towers, walls and gateways built at different levels
π OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/chepstow-castle
LOCATION
Located in the cute town of Chepstow
Overhead view of the castle to show its location along the water and the sheer size of it
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY!
Chepstow Castle, known in Welsh as Castell Cas-gwent, was built shortly after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066
Originally known as Striguil, the castle was built to help establish Norman control over the Welsh borderlands
How did they build it!?
Built along a narrow limestone ridge, with steep cliffs dropping towards the River Wye, the castle’s builders made clever use of the natural landscape
And different owners kept building and expanding onto the layers below… this castle is steeped with history!
I always always always wonder how they built these type of fortresses back in those days with just hammer and chisel…
Many Norman castles were built with timber first, but this one was originally built in stone
IM IN LOVE!… And I will continue to hug every single castle I can get my hands on!
One of Chepstow Castle’s most famous owners was William Marshal, a celebrated medieval knight who eventually became Earl of Pembroke
Marshal inherited the castle through his marriage to Isabel de Clare in 1189… geez lucky him eh!
He was an experienced soldier who had spent time fighting and travelling abroad, and he introduced important improvements to Chepstow’s defences
These included strengthening the castle’s fortifications and developing its impressive gatehouse
Exploring the surroundings of the castle
SOME OF THE OLDEST CASTLE DOORS IN EUROPE!
Known to house the oldest surviving door in Europe!
This was the front entrance to the castle
Dating from 12th c. they say, they were reinforced with iron plates to make them harder to break and burn – and they are still around!
The original is placed inside the castle and they use a replica at the front now
Fast-forward to the 17th century, and Chepstow Castle found itself caught up in the English Civil War
The castle was held by Royalist forces supporting King Charles I, but Parliamentarian troops captured it in 1645
Then, in 1648, Royalists seized it again, leading to another siege.
Parliamentarian forces bombarded the castle with artillery, damaging its walls and eventually forcing its surrender.
By this stage, medieval castles were struggling to withstand increasingly powerful cannons.
Those enormous stone walls that had protected Chepstow for centuries were no longer quite so effective!
FROM FORTRESS TO RUINS!
So sad… by late 17th c, the importance of this castle was fading and the fortress fell into ruins – so much history! if only walls could talk
2005
