Tretower Castle

Tretower Castle
Tretower, Powys, Wales

Tretower Castle
Tretower Castle
Coordinates 51°53′02″N 3°11′10″W / 51.8839°N 3.1861°W / 51.8839; -3.1861Coordinates: 51°53′02″N 3°11′10″W / 51.8839°N 3.1861°W / 51.8839; -3.1861
Site information
Owner Cadw
Condition Ruined
Listed Building – Grade I

Tretower Castle (Welsh: Castell Tretŵr) is a Grade I-listed ruined castle in the village of Tretower in the county of Powys, Wales. It was built around the beginning of the twelfth century as a motte and bailey castle and this was probably replaced mid-century by a stone shell keep. The castle was enlarged in the early thirteenth century, but later fell into ruin.

History

Remains of Tretower Castle c.1860

Tretower (Welsh: Gastell Tretŵr[1]) was founded as a motte and bailey castle by Picard, a follower of Bernard de Neufmarché. Probably around 1150, Picard's son, Roger Picard I, replaced the motte with a shell keep. By about 1230 a tall cylindrical keep was added to the inside of the shell keep, possibly by his great-grandson, Roger Picard II, and the space between was roofed over. At this time the earlier bailey was walled in stone and provided with cylindrical corner towers. In the early 14th century residential buildings were constructed away from the original fortifications forming today's Tretower Court. Over time the lords of Tretower favoured the more luxurious Court and the castle fell into disuse.[2]

Description of the castle

Tretower Castle – From a survey in the beginning of the 6th century

The castle is roughly triangular in plan, with the motte and keep assemblage occupying the western corner. The 12th century shell-keep is an irregular enclosure with a gate-tower on the line of approach from the bailey. In the centre of the shell stands the tall cylindrical 13th century keep. The keep is of three stories, with an original entrance at first floor level, above a strong, slanted batter or talus. The top of the talus is marked by a decorative string-course of stone.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dictionary of the Placenames of Wales byHywel Wyn owen and Richard Morgan; Gomer Press, 2007
  2. 1 2 "Tretower Castle – Llanfihangel Cwmdu with Bwlch and Cathedine". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 28 April 2016.

Bibliography

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