Of castles & kings in North Wales & beyond.

     Patches of snow still sat high on the north facing slopes of the mountains amidst the spectacular scenery of north Wales - with picturesque rolling hills of outstanding natural beauty & long valleys that roamed between high rugged mountains, where mists gathered & swirled amongst rocky outcrops, snowcapped in winter, the bleakness adding drama that sweeps to the sea.
     Along the coast on the banks of the Menai Straits & opposite the Isle of Anglesey, Caernarfon Castle north west of Wales, was built by King Edward I of England. He began the medieval building in 1283, replacing the original motte-and-bailey castle in the town, where originally a Roman fort stood nearby. The castle's imposing size & with the Eagle Tower being most impressive, its easy access to the sea made it a fortified strength in the late 13th century. It was where Edward II was born in April 1284,  later meeting a grim end in September 1327 in Berkeley Castle.
     The castle stands in Gwynedd & Madog ap Llywelyn sacked the town & castle in 1294 when he lead a rebellion against the English.
     Richard II who had seized the Lancastrian estates after the death of his father Edward the Black Prince, was deposed by Henry Bolingbroke when, after the death of his father John of Gaunt in 1399, succeeded as King. He was more energetic & conciliatory than Richard overcoming all opponents. Richard died in Pontefract Castle under mysterious circumstances.
     Owain Glyndwr was the last native Welshman to bear the title of Prince of Wales, (self-proclaimed) instigating an unsuccessful revolt against English rule & that of Henry IV of England from 1400. The last documented sight of him was in 1412 & his fate remains a mystery.
     Relations between the English & Welsh began diminishing during the Tudor dynasty when castles fell into disrepair.
     Charles, the present Prince of Wales was invested at Caernarfon Castle in 1969.
     The countryside between Caernarfon & Conwy is stunning before approaching the magnificence of Conwy castle, once the site of a Cistercian monastery favoured by Welsh princes. It occupies a prominent position on a coastal ridge of north Wales, built from local & imported stone by Edward I of England during his conquest of Wales & became part of the walled town of Conwy.
      It withstood the siege by Madog ap Llywelyn in the winter of 1294-1295 & Richard II used it as a temporary haven in 1399. Owain Glyndwr held it for several months in 1401.
      The castle is considered to be one of the finest late 13th & early 14th century examples of military architecture with its exterior curtain wall & towers & was completed in 1287.
     It surrended to the Parliamentary armies during the English Civil war in 1646, after holding out by forces loyal to Charles I. It finally fell into complete ruin in 1665 when its remaining lead & iron were stripped off.
     The town of Conwy is charming with several different periods depicted in its architecture, but the castle still remains a prominent force within the town & climbing the ramparts & many staircases, its long history is written within the high walls overlooking the sea. The surrounding  mountains & hills of Wales lie scattered on the near horizons, their beauty & rugged splendor prominent, yet  reflecting their own magical individuality & presence.  
     Travelling south east from the north coast, between Chester in the north & Hereford further south, the town of Shrewsbury, a Saxon name, extended as far back as 901 & once a centre for the wool trade. Its half timbered Abbot's house on Butcher Row from 1500 still stands, as do several other fine buildings of the period.
     Shrewsbury stands on a meander of the River Severn & is nine miles from the Welsh border.
     The first Earl of Shrewsbury, a relative of William I, Roger de Montgomery built a castle in 1074 where the present one stands.
     After 1066 Walter de Lacy, a trusted member of the household of William FitzOsbern, was granted land in order to keep his loyalty along the English-Welsh border in South Shropshire. His two sons Roger & Hugh were responsible for the early building of Ludlow Castle which occupies a commanding position high above the river Teme.
     Over the centuries the castle had passed into many different hands, bearing a long history of ownership.
     The round tower dates from the 12th century, but in 1135 after Henry I died, the number of Welsh raids increased & following Henry's death, the grandson of William I, Stephen of Blois seized the throne even though it was promised to Henry's daughter Empress Matilda.
     By the late 15th century Ludlow castle was under ownership of Richard, Duke of York & being a major base during the Wars of the Roses, was taken by the Lancastrians, then back into York hands in 1461.
      Edward IV sent his son Edward, the Prince of Wales to live at Ludlow castle when young.  He was then sent into virtual imprisonment in the Tower of London by his uncle, King Richard III of England & joined by his brother Richard. The young prince was never crowned & together with his younger brother, disappeared, presumed murdered throwing suspicion on their uncle.
       Ludlow now a pleasant market town, lies close to the Welsh border, forming part of the Welsh Marches. In the Middle Ages the castle formed a strategic stronghold for controlling the Welsh Borders. The de Lacy family had control of the castle mainly during the early part of the 12th century & up until the 14th century. It later became the possession of the Mortimers through marriage.  
       Hereford being a cathedral city, lies on the River Wye south of Ludlow & the Mappa Mundi drawn on a single sheet of vellum is hung on display within the cathedral. It is believed to be the largest remaining medieval map still in existence. The writing is in black ink with several other colours used to depict hundreds of towns & dozens of biblical events. Several colours were used to enhance the animals & plants, people & scenes from classical mythology. Its circular presentation includes Great Britain drawn at the northwestern border.
      There had been around 400 castles built in Wales,100 of which still stand mainly in ruins, many being constructed in commanding positions where they fulfilled strategic purposes. Many too have returned to nature & become no more than a ditch, mound or earthwork.
     There will always be a long & intriguing history associated with Wales & the countryside, together with its people uniquely standing with pride & patriotism. This beautiful country, rugged in places particularly in the mountainous north, the rivers & forests combined with towns, villages & a coast of stunning proportions, are all part of its national identity & remain part of the United Kingdom.