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Caernarfon Castle

Caernarfon CastleThundering up into the sky, the stark angular towers and stout walls of Caernarfon Castle stands guard over the southern reaches of the Menai Straights separating Anglesey from North Wales.  One of a chain of castles built by Edward I to quell Welsh Rebels, Caernarfon was designed to be a military stronghold, seat of Government and Royal Palace.

Prince Llywelyn the Great.Overlooking the main trade routes to and from Ireland, the strategic significance of the site was recognised first by the Celts and then the Romans, but it was the invading Normans who built the first motte-and-bailey castle on the site in 1073.  Having successfully subdued the English, they attempted a similar coup in Wales but it was not to be. The castle was captured by Welsh rebels led by Prince Llywelyn the Great who chose Caernarfon as his home and headquarters.

Edward IStrife between the English and Welsh simmered on but when the English killed Llywelyn ap Gruffud, Prince of Wales in 1282, the rebels fell into disarray and it was just one year later that Edward I arrived and laid the foundation stones of the present castle.


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Caernarfon CastleThis magnificent castle was designed by James of St.George who had master-minded the building of Conwy, Beaumaris and Harlech Castles. Caernarfon was to be more than just an impregnable fortress, it was to be a Royal Palace as well.   Taking almost fifty years to build, the unique angular towers, crenulated walls and colour banded masonry was almost certainly inspired by the architecture of Constantinople seen by both James and Edward I during the Crusades.

Arrow SlitIn an attempt to pacify the rebels, Edward I promised the Welsh that his son would be crowned Prince of Wales and brought up to speak Welsh, thus it was that the ill-fated Edward II came to be born in Wales in 1284.   Over the following centuries things quietened down; the English forces were spending all their time and energy trying to hold back the Scots and intermarriage softened the Anglo/Welsh strife.

English Civil WarAs with so many castles in England and Wales, Caernarfon saw action during the English Civil War.  Chosen by Charles I as a garrison, Caernarfon Castle withstood three sieges before finally falling into the hands of Parliamentarian, Oliver Cromwell in 1646.  Fortunately the castle suffered very little damage and it was handed back to the Crown after the Restoration.

Investiture of the Price of WalesCaernarfon Castle’s regal heritage came to the fore once again in 1969 when HRH Queen Elizabeth II, invested her oldest son, Charles Windsor, as Prince of Wales within the castle walls. Kneeling before the Queen, he was presented with a crown, a sword to defend his land, a ring as a representation of his responsibility and a rod as a symbol of government.  In return the new Prince of Wales pledged his allegiance to the Crown, "I, Charles, Prince of Wales, do become your liege man of life and limb and of earthly worship and faith and truth I will bear unto you to live and die against all manner of folks."

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