Chepstow Castle III

A couple more photos at Chepstow Castle. As the castle was built in stages along the river Wye it has an unusual shape. It is a series of terraces stretching along the cliff top.

During the civil war the castle was besieged twice, in 1645 and 1648. It was defended by the Royalists. The Parliamentarians captured it in 1648. After the war it was garrisoned and used as prison. When it stopped being used a castle it started falling in to decay. Its uses including a farmyard and a factory.

By the late 18th C the castle was a popular sight for tourists. Conservation work started in 1914 and in 1953 it was put in the care of the Ministry of Works. The castle has been used in the making of two films, the 1913 version of Ivanhoe and 1977's Jabberwocky. I think they would both have benefited from an appearance by a proper red dragon.

Chepstow Castle II

They must have been expecting me at the castle as this nice throne was ready for me, well it's what a Welsh dragon would expect when visiting a castle.

In the 1190's the castle was expanded by William Marshall (Normans were rather fond of 'William' as a name). He built the main gatehouse and strengthened other parts. After his death his sons (including a William!) continued building.

In 1270 the castle passed to Roger Bigod. He also expanded the castle. Adding new accommodation for his family, remodelling the Great Tower and building a new tower - Marten's Tower. He also built Chepstow town wall. I'm surprised the Normans had time for fighting as they must have been very busy building all these castles and walls.

Chepstow Castle

I'm visiting Chepstow, it's a handy place to stop travelling from Cardiff to London. The Normans started building the castle in 1067, one year after the conquest of England. Making it the oldest non-Roman stone fort in Britain. It was built for William FitzOsbern, a relative of William the Conqueror. FitzOsbern was first given control of the Isle of Wight then made Earl of Hereford. This part of England wasn't under full Norman control and bordered Wales. The Welsh were independent of England back then, though the Anglo-Saxons had invaded Wales a few times, with King Harold being the most recent and successful before he became king. This castle will have helped impress and intimidate the Anglo-Saxons still fighting and the Welsh.