Dryslwyn Castle (Welsh: Castell y Drysllwyn) is a native Welshcastle, sited on a rocky hill roughly halfway between Llandeilo and Carmarthen in Wales. It stands on high ground overlooking the Tywi Valley with extensive views. It was built in about the 1220s by one of the princes of the kingdom of Deheubarth, and changed hands several times in the struggles between the Welsh and English over the ensuing centuries. It is considered one of the most important remaining structures built by a Welsh chieftain and is a Grade I listed building.
Perched on the top of an isolated, rocky hill above the Towy Valley, Dryslwyn Castle occupies a splendid defensive position. It may occupy a spot previously used in as a fortification in prehistoric times but no evidence has been found to support this theory. In the twelfth century, Rhys ap Gruffydd, often known as "Lord Rhys", reigned over the kingdom of Deheubarth and brought it a period of peace and stability. On his death in 1197, his three sons contested his inheritance and fought between themselves for supremacy. Neighbouring Welsh kingdoms and the English took advantage of this to infiltrate Deheubarth and it was around this time that Dryslwyn Castle was built.
Dryslwyn Castle with Gronger Hill
It is not clear precisely who built it, but it was probably constructed in the 1220s by one of the princes of Deheubarth, perhaps Rhys Gryg. In any event, the castle at Dryslwyn was, along with the neighbouring Dinefwr Castle, for a long time central to the security of the kingdom. It was apparently assaulted in 1246, because it was mentioned in an ancient chronicle, Annales Cambrie, where a siege of the castle by the Seneschal of Carmarthen was mentioned. He was apparently acting on behalf of its "rightful owner", but who that rightful owner was, or whether the siege was successful, is not known.[1]
It may have been that Rhys Gryg built the two fortresses of Dryslwyn and Dinefwr in order to provide legacies for his two sons after his death, which happened in 1234. The two castles are of very similar construction, with a round tower with flared base inside a ward enclosed by a curtain wall that contoured round the hillside. The ward contained a great hall and an adjoining building that was probably a kitchen. Between the hall and the curtain wall was an enclosed small structure that it has been suggested may have been a prison.[2]
Dryslwyn Castle, side view
The castle underwent a lengthy period of expansion in the late thirteenth century. After the death of the last native prince of Wales, Dafydd ap Gruffudd, in 1283, the castle was one of the few remaining substantial stone castles in Wales to be held by a Welshman; the most prominent surviving Welsh lord, Rhys ap Maredudd, continued to augment the castle's defences. He was allowed by the English to keep his castle as he had shown a more conciliatory attitude towards them than other Welsh lords. However, in 1287 he revolted against English rule, and the castle was besieged and captured after a three-week siege by the forces of King Edward I. The English troops numbered 11,000 and methods of assault included the use of a trebuchet and the undermining of the curtain walls. Several English knights were killed when one of the mine workings collapsed while they were inspecting it. Rhys's revolt petered out the following year, and Rhys himself was captured and executed in 1292.[2][3]
Dryslwyn was seized by Owain Glyndŵr in the summer of 1403 and when the English forces recaptured it they decommissioned it by blocking various access routes, walling up the gatehouse, removing the treads from stone stairs and even removing the hinges from the main gate. At some later stage, all the major buildings were burned to the ground. Following this a lot of the stone was removed from the site.[1]
Structureedit
Dryslwyn Castle
The castle of limestone walls was built in the 1220s, and was systematically demolished in the early fifteenth century, presumably in an attempt to stop Welsh rebels using it again. The polygonal inner ward contains principal remains to the south-west, with traces of the middle and outer ward to the north-east. The early-thirteenth-century curtain wall to the inner ward only stands 1 m (3 ft) high.
There is a garderobe to the east side, and a remodelled thirteenth-century gatehouse to the north-east, surviving at foundation level only. On the south side of the gatehouse is the Round Tower, the original keep. The foundations of the original great hall and Rhys ap Maredudd's hall survive.[3]
Dryslwyn todayedit
Little is left of the original structure and much of what is now visible has been revealed by excavation. A small portion of the middle and outer walls survive, mostly associated with the middle and outer gates. The best-preserved remains are within the inner ward, and here can be seen the polygonal plan that was adopted to fit in with the shape of the hilltop.[3]
It is considered one of the most important remaining structures built by a Welsh chieftain and is a Grade I listed building, being noteworthy as the only native Welsh castle to have three wards.[3]
dryslwyn, castle, welsh, castell, drysllwyn, native, welsh, castle, sited, rocky, hill, roughly, halfway, between, llandeilo, carmarthen, wales, stands, high, ground, overlooking, tywi, valley, with, extensive, views, built, about, 1220s, princes, kingdom, deh. Dryslwyn Castle Welsh Castell y Drysllwyn is a native Welsh castle sited on a rocky hill roughly halfway between Llandeilo and Carmarthen in Wales It stands on high ground overlooking the Tywi Valley with extensive views It was built in about the 1220s by one of the princes of the kingdom of Deheubarth and changed hands several times in the struggles between the Welsh and English over the ensuing centuries It is considered one of the most important remaining structures built by a Welsh chieftain and is a Grade I listed building Dryslwyn Castle above the Towy Valley Contents 1 Castle of Deheubarth 2 Structure 3 Dryslwyn today 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 Further reading 8 External linksCastle of Deheubarth editPerched on the top of an isolated rocky hill above the Towy Valley Dryslwyn Castle occupies a splendid defensive position It may occupy a spot previously used in as a fortification in prehistoric times but no evidence has been found to support this theory In the twelfth century Rhys ap Gruffydd often known as Lord Rhys reigned over the kingdom of Deheubarth and brought it a period of peace and stability On his death in 1197 his three sons contested his inheritance and fought between themselves for supremacy Neighbouring Welsh kingdoms and the English took advantage of this to infiltrate Deheubarth and it was around this time that Dryslwyn Castle was built nbsp Dryslwyn Castle with Gronger HillIt is not clear precisely who built it but it was probably constructed in the 1220s by one of the princes of Deheubarth perhaps Rhys Gryg In any event the castle at Dryslwyn was along with the neighbouring Dinefwr Castle for a long time central to the security of the kingdom It was apparently assaulted in 1246 because it was mentioned in an ancient chronicle Annales Cambrie where a siege of the castle by the Seneschal of Carmarthen was mentioned He was apparently acting on behalf of its rightful owner but who that rightful owner was or whether the siege was successful is not known 1 It may have been that Rhys Gryg built the two fortresses of Dryslwyn and Dinefwr in order to provide legacies for his two sons after his death which happened in 1234 The two castles are of very similar construction with a round tower with flared base inside a ward enclosed by a curtain wall that contoured round the hillside The ward contained a great hall and an adjoining building that was probably a kitchen Between the hall and the curtain wall was an enclosed small structure that it has been suggested may have been a prison 2 nbsp Dryslwyn Castle side viewThe castle underwent a lengthy period of expansion in the late thirteenth century After the death of the last native prince of Wales Dafydd ap Gruffudd in 1283 the castle was one of the few remaining substantial stone castles in Wales to be held by a Welshman the most prominent surviving Welsh lord Rhys ap Maredudd continued to augment the castle s defences He was allowed by the English to keep his castle as he had shown a more conciliatory attitude towards them than other Welsh lords However in 1287 he revolted against English rule and the castle was besieged and captured after a three week siege by the forces of King Edward I The English troops numbered 11 000 and methods of assault included the use of a trebuchet and the undermining of the curtain walls Several English knights were killed when one of the mine workings collapsed while they were inspecting it Rhys s revolt petered out the following year and Rhys himself was captured and executed in 1292 2 3 Dryslwyn was seized by Owain Glyndŵr in the summer of 1403 and when the English forces recaptured it they decommissioned it by blocking various access routes walling up the gatehouse removing the treads from stone stairs and even removing the hinges from the main gate At some later stage all the major buildings were burned to the ground Following this a lot of the stone was removed from the site 1 Structure edit nbsp Dryslwyn CastleThe castle of limestone walls was built in the 1220s and was systematically demolished in the early fifteenth century presumably in an attempt to stop Welsh rebels using it again The polygonal inner ward contains principal remains to the south west with traces of the middle and outer ward to the north east The early thirteenth century curtain wall to the inner ward only stands 1 m 3 ft high There is a garderobe to the east side and a remodelled thirteenth century gatehouse to the north east surviving at foundation level only On the south side of the gatehouse is the Round Tower the original keep The foundations of the original great hall and Rhys ap Maredudd s hall survive 3 Dryslwyn today editLittle is left of the original structure and much of what is now visible has been revealed by excavation A small portion of the middle and outer walls survive mostly associated with the middle and outer gates The best preserved remains are within the inner ward and here can be seen the polygonal plan that was adopted to fit in with the shape of the hilltop 3 It is considered one of the most important remaining structures built by a Welsh chieftain and is a Grade I listed building being noteworthy as the only native Welsh castle to have three wards 3 Gallery edit nbsp The Castle and the River Towy nbsp View over the Tywi Valley nbsp View over Ruins and river Towy nbsp Ruins walls open to the publicSee also editList of castles in Wales Castles in Great Britain and IrelandReferences edit a b Thomas Jeffrey L 2009 Dryslwyn Castle Castles of Wales Retrieved 5 April 2016 a b Fisk Stephen Abandoned communities Tywi Valley Retrieved 13 April 2016 a b c d Dryslwyn Castle Llangathen British Listed Buildings Retrieved 5 April 2016 Further reading editCaple Chris 2007 Excavations at Dryslwyn Castle 1980 1995 Society for Medieval ArchaeologyExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dryslwyn Castle Dryslwyn Castle Wales red Pictures of Dryslwyn Castle51 51 45 N 4 06 05 W 51 862443 N 4 101479 W 51 862443 4 101479 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dryslwyn Castle amp oldid 1144112015, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
