Castell Aberlleiniog: A Medieval Motte-and-Bailey Castle in Wales
Site at a Glance
- Rating
- 4.3
- Popularity
- Low
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Primary era
- Medieval
- External website
- Open
- Eras represented
- Medieval
- Civilizations
- Norman
- Site type
- Military
- Remains
- Castle
On this page5 sections
History
Norman foundation
Castell Aberlleiniog is a medieval castle in Wales, founded by Hugh d’Avranches and built between 1080 and 1099. Hugh d’Avranches, also known as Hugh the Wolf, was a Norman magnate and the first Earl of Chester. The castle formed part of the Norman military presence on Anglesey during the medieval period.
Its first defenses were made of timber. This early construction was later replaced by a stone structure, changing the character and durability of the castle while retaining its position on a steep hill near Beaumaris.
Siege and destruction
In 1094, Gruffudd ap Cynan, a Welsh ruler and king of Gwynedd, besieged Castell Aberlleiniog. The siege failed, although 124 Norman defenders were killed in the battle.
In the mid-seventeenth century, Thomas Chidley destroyed the castle. Chidley was the constable of Beaumaris Castle, an official responsible for the administration and defense of a castle. Castell Aberlleiniog was later restored and survives in a partially restored state.
Remains
Layout and setting
Castell Aberlleiniog was a motte-and-bailey castle, a form combining a raised earthwork mound with an adjoining enclosed courtyard. It stood on a steep hill approximately 2 miles north of Beaumaris Castle, about 25 metres above sea level on the island of Anglesey. The surviving plan consists of a courtyard enclosed by low walls, with round towers positioned at the corners.
The landscape around the castle is flat to the northwest and hilly to the southeast, while the sea lies to the northeast. Carnedd Llewelyn, the highest point in the surrounding area, rises to 1,062 metres above sea level approximately 16.2 kilometres south of Castell Aberlleiniog.
