Blaenllyfni Castle
Encyclopedia
Blaenllyfni is a ruinous castle
near the village of Bwlch
in southern Powys
, Wales
. It was at the centre of the Fitz Herbert barony of Talgarth
, which was created as a third part of the Brecon
lordship in 1208. The castle was therefore most likely constructed in 1208–1215.
It was sacked by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth and Richard Marshall in October 1233. Soon rebuilt, it was apparently taken by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd
in 1262, but by September 1273 it had been retaken by Reginald fitz Peter fitz Herbert. Around 1322 the castle was seized by the Crown and given to the Despensers. At the time of the execution of Hugh Despenser the Younger in 1326, it was nearly ruinous, probably having never been adequately repaired after the siege by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd.
The castle is on private grounds. There are remains of a keep
and several towers.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
near the village of Bwlch
Bwlch
Bwlch is a small village on a col between two hills, where the present day A40 road now runs, between Brecon and Crickhowell in Powys, southern Wales...
in southern Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It was at the centre of the Fitz Herbert barony of Talgarth
Talgarth
Talgarth is a small market town and community in southern Powys , Mid Wales, with a population of 1,645. Notable buildings in the town include its 14th-century parish church and 13th century Pele Tower, located in the town centre, now home to the Tourist Information and Resource Centre...
, which was created as a third part of the Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
lordship in 1208. The castle was therefore most likely constructed in 1208–1215.
It was sacked by Prince Llywelyn ab Iorwerth and Richard Marshall in October 1233. Soon rebuilt, it was apparently taken by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd
Llywelyn ap Gruffydd may refer to:*Llywelyn the Last *Llywelyn ap Gruffydd Fychan...
in 1262, but by September 1273 it had been retaken by Reginald fitz Peter fitz Herbert. Around 1322 the castle was seized by the Crown and given to the Despensers. At the time of the execution of Hugh Despenser the Younger in 1326, it was nearly ruinous, probably having never been adequately repaired after the siege by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd.
The castle is on private grounds. There are remains of a keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
and several towers.