Kenfig Castle
Encyclopedia
Kenfig Castle is a ruined castle in Bridgend County Borough in Wales
that came to prominence after the Anglo-Norman invasion of Wales
in the late eleventh century. An early reference to a castle at Kenfig can be found in 1080, when Iestyn ap Gwrgan was said to have refortified it, but probably this was a different structure to that raised alongside the town that developed there in the mid-twelfth century.
The castle was sacked by the Welsh on at least six occasions, in 1167, 1183, 1232, 1242, 1294-5, by Morgan ap Maredudd
during the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn
, and again in 1316 during the revolt of Llywelyn Bren
. By the late fifteenth century both town and castle had been abandoned because of encroaching sand dunes.
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...
that came to prominence after the Anglo-Norman invasion of 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...
in the late eleventh century. An early reference to a castle at Kenfig can be found in 1080, when Iestyn ap Gwrgan was said to have refortified it, but probably this was a different structure to that raised alongside the town that developed there in the mid-twelfth century.
The castle was sacked by the Welsh on at least six occasions, in 1167, 1183, 1232, 1242, 1294-5, by Morgan ap Maredudd
Morgan ap Maredudd
Morgan ap Maredudd sometimes referred to as “Morgan the Rebel” , rebel, was the son of Maredudd ap Gruffudd the last Welsh lord of Caerleon of Machen, and Maud, daughter of Cadwallon...
during the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn
Madog ap Llywelyn
Madog ap Llywelyn, or Prince Madoc, was from a junior branch of the House of Aberffraw and a distant relation of Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last recognised native Prince of Wales.-Lineage:...
, and again in 1316 during the revolt of Llywelyn Bren
Llywelyn Bren
Llywelyn Bren , or Llywelyn ap Gruffudd ap Rhys or Llywelyn of the Woods , was a nobleman who led a revolt in Wales during the reign of King Edward II of England in 1316. The revolt would be the last serious challenge to English rule in Wales until the attempts of Owain Lawgoch to invade Wales with...
. By the late fifteenth century both town and castle had been abandoned because of encroaching sand dunes.