Neath Castle ( cy, Castell Nedd) is a Norman castle located in the town centre of

Neath Neath (; cy, Castell-nedd) is a market town and Community (Wales), community situated in the Neath Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot County Borough, Wales. The town had a population of 50,658 in 2011. The community of the parish of Neath had a po ...

, Wales. Its construction was begun by Robert, Earl of Gloucester, the nominal

Lord of Glamorgan The Lordship of Glamorgan was one of the most powerful and wealthy of the Welsh Marcher Lordships. The seat was Cardiff Castle. It was established by the conquest of Glamorgan from its native Welsh ruler, by the Anglo-Norman nobleman Robert FitzHa ...

, at a date estimated between 1114 and 1130. It is also referred to as "Granville's Castle", after

Richard I de Grenville Sir Richard de Grenville (died after 1142) (''alias'' de Grainvilla, de Greinvill, etc.) was one of the Twelve Knights of Glamorgan who served under Robert FitzHamon (died 1107), in the conquest of Glamorgan in Wales. He obtained from FitzHamon ...

(or Granville or Glanville; died post 1142), Lord of Neath, who has also been credited with its construction. The town of Neath takes its Welsh name, "Castell-nedd", from the castle.

History

The first castle in Neath was located west of the river near the Roman fort of Nidum, and was a timber fortification in a

motte and bailey A motte-and-bailey castle is a European fortification with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised area of ground called a motte, accompanied by a walled courtyard, or Bailey (castle), bailey, surrounded by a protective Rampart (fortification ...

structure. When Richard de Grenville founded Neath Abbey close by, he abandoned this original castle, and it may have been used by the monks as a source of building material. A second castle on the opposite bank of the river, in what is now the centre of the town, is first documented in 1183; shortly afterwards, William de Cogan, son of Miles de Cogan, was appointed constable. This second castle was built by Gilbert de Clare, 5th Earl of Gloucester. During the

13th century The 13th century was the century which lasted from January 1, 1201 ( MCCI) through December 31, 1300 ( MCCC) in accordance with the Julian calendar. The Mongol Empire was founded by Genghis Khan, which stretched from Eastern Asia to Eastern Eu ...

, being a Norman stronghold, it was subject to attack by the Welsh, notably by

Llywelyn the Great Llywelyn the Great ( cy, Llywelyn Fawr, ; full name Llywelyn mab Iorwerth; c. 117311 April 1240) was a King of Gwynedd in north Wales and eventually " Prince of the Welsh" (in 1228) and "Prince of Wales" (in 1240). By a combination of war and d ...

, who captured it in 1231 with help from a local Welsh lord, Morgan Gam. Following this, it was substantially rebuilt by Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester, Gilbert's son. It was taken again, and this time destroyed, by Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford, in 1321, during the rebellion against King Edward II of England. Its owner, Hugh Despenser the Younger (who had gained the lordship through his marriage to the heiress Eleanor de Clare), rebuilt it, possibly with the addition of a gatehouse. In 1376, one Roger Kyngot was the constable, and the castle was rebuilt in stone in 1377; that is probably when the great gatehouse was built, which is the main surviving feature. The castle was in use until the 17th century, and has been a recreational area for the town since the 18th century. The post of "Constable of Neath Castle", a medieval legacy, was held by Sir

Humphrey Mackworth Sir Humphrey Mackworth (Jan 1657–1727) was a British Business magnate, industrialist and politician. He was involved in a business scandal in the early 18th century and was a founding member of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge. ...

from 1703. The title was eventually absorbed into that of Mayor of Neath. What remains of the castle is designated a Grade II* listed building.

References

Gallery

File:Neath castle, Glamorganshire.jpeg, Neath Castle, 1807, by artist Edward Dayes, 1763-1804, and engraver J. Storer, 1771-1837 File:Hendrik Frans de Cort - The Gnoll and Castle, Neath.jpg, The Gnoll and Castle, Neath, 1790-1810 by

Hendrik Frans de Cort Hendrik de Cort or Hendrik Frans de Cort (1742 in Antwerp – 28 June 1810 in London) was a Flemish landscape painter and draughtsman. His international career brought him to Antwerp, Paris, England and Wales. He is mainly remembered for his t ...

File:Neath Castle, in Radnorshire i.e. Glamorganshire.jpeg, Neath Castle ca 1790, by Page File:Neath castle.jpeg, Neath Castle ca 1790 File:Neath Castle.jpeg, Neath Castle, 1811, by John George Wood (1768-1838) File:Neath, Glamorganshire.jpeg, A view of Neath with a castle in the foreground, 1836 by Peter DeWint (1784-1849) {{coord, 51.6651, -3.8037, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title Buildings and structures in Neath Castles in Neath Port Talbot Tourist attractions in Neath Port Talbot Castle ruins in Wales Grade II* listed buildings in Neath Port Talbot Grade II* listed castles in Wales

History

See also

References

Gallery