Llandovery Castle
{{Short description|Castle in Carmarthenshire, Wales}}
{{About|the castle ruin|the Canadian hospital ship sunk in 1918|HMHS Llandovery Castle}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox military installation
|name=Llandovery Castle
|partof=
|location=Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, Wales
|image=200px
|caption=
|map_type = Wales
|coordinates = {{coord|51.9924|-3.7952|type:landmark_region:GB-MON|display=inline}}
|map_size = 160
|map_alt =
|map_caption = Shown within Wales
|image2=
|caption2=
|type=Castle
|code=
|built=
|builder=Richard Fitz Pons?
|materials=
|height=
|used=
|condition=Ruins
|ownership=
|open_to_public=
|controlledby=
|garrison=
|current_commander=
|commanders=
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|battles=
|module = {{Infobox designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Grade II*
| designation1_date =3 August 1966
}}
|events=
}}
Llandovery Castle ({{langx|cy|Castell Llanymddyfri}}) is a late thirteenth-century, Grade II*-listed, castle ruin in the town of Llandovery in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It occupies a knoll overlooking the River Towy and the land surrounding it. The Normans built a castle in the current location in the early twelfth century and this was rebuilt in stone. It was burnt in the early sixteenth century and never repaired.
History
File:Castell Llanymddyfri Sir Gaerfyrddin gyda cherflun o - LLywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan 09.JPG
A Norman knight, Richard Fitz Pons, received the lordship of Cantref Bychan in 1116 and he probably began construction of a motte-and-bailey castle in 1116. It was repeatedly lost to the Princes of Deheubarth over the next several generations. King Henry II of England spent a great deal of money repairing the castle in 1159–62, but the Welsh captured it regardless.
It finally fell to the English under Edward I in 1277. It was briefly recaptured by Welsh forces under Llywelyn ap Gruffudd five years later.{{cite web|url=https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/CastlesinWales/ |title=Castles in Wales|publisher= Historic UK, History Magazine|author=Ben Johnson|access-date=15 August 2023}} The castle was then granted to John Giffard, 1st Baron Giffard, who likely rebuilt it in stone.
The building passed to the baronial Audley family of Heleigh in 1299 (who later inherited the lordship of Cemaes in north Pembrokeshire) and then into the Touchet family in the fourteenth century.
King Henry IV of England visited the castle in 1400 and it was besieged during the Owain Glyndŵr rebellion three years later.
The castle was burnt in a rebellion led by Hywel ap Rhys in 1532 and was never rebuilt.{{cite web|title=Llandovery Castle – Llandovery – Carmarthenshire – Wales|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-10965-llandovery-castle-llandovery|website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk|publisher=British Listed Buildings|accessdate=2 May 2016}}
Description
File:Llandovery Castle, Carmarthenshire.jpeg
File:Castell Llanymddyfri Sir Gaerfyrddin gyda cherflun o - LLywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan 07.JPG
The keep is a large D-shaped tower on the western side of the castle. The gatehouse has two towers on the north side with a well-tower. There are also remnants of the curtain wall around the filled-in ditch.
See also
Notes
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Llandovery Castle}}
{{coord|51|59|42|N|3|47|42.72|W|region:GB_type:city|display=title}}
{{Castles in Carmarthenshire}}
Category:Castles in Carmarthenshire
Category:Castle ruins in Wales
Category:Grade II* listed castles in Wales
Category:Grade II* listed buildings in Carmarthenshire