KIDWELLY CASTLE

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Kidwelly Castle is one of the greater castles of Wales, built as the centre of a great lordship comprising the commote of Cydweli. It was built in the years after 1106 and is first mentioned in about 1115. It was roughly contemporary with the Benedictine Priory on the other side of the river (NPRN 301847). Although some earlier masonry remains the present grand castle was largely built in about 1270-1300, with the grandiose great gate added in the late fourteenth century. It was maintained into the sixteenth century.
The castle consists of a large D-plan enclosure resting on steep slopes above the Gwendraeth Fach. This is set within a much larger earthwork enclosure the southern part of which held the small medieval walled borough (NPRN 33065), with the castle gardens in the northern part (NPRN 79038). The castle enclosure is encircled by a towered wall with gates at either end, the great gate opening towards the borough to the south.

Built within the enclosure is a square court with comparatively low walls and tall round towers at each corner. This was the mansion of the lords of Kidwelly. The walls and towers, which were subsequently raised, were built in about 1270-80 and the grand domestic ranges were added within a decade or two. A notable feature is the projecting chapel building and the low terrace above the river. It seems likely that the court walls were never visible from outside the castle, being overshaddowed by the outer wall. This would have effected the visual and symbolic impact of the four great towers, each one sufficient to signal lordship at a lesser castle.

Source: CADW Guide to Kidwelly Castle, revised 4th edition (2007)

John Wiles, RCAHMW, 26 Janiuary 2008

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KIDWELLY CASTLE

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