Usk Castle
Encyclopedia
Usk Castle is a castle
site in the town of Usk
in central Monmouthshire
, south east Wales
, United Kingdom
.
settlements and castle
s of the region, such as Monmouth Castle
and Abergavenny Castle
. However, the site had a history of previous military, strategic, and local significance, for it was here that the Romans
had established their early Legionary fortress before relocating it south to Caerleon
.
Usk is first mentioned in 1138 in the context of it being captured by the Welsh
. It passed back into Norman hands, only to be captured by the Welsh again in 1174, as was Abergavenny
, when turmoil again developed into open conflict in this area of the Welsh Marches
.
William Marshal was the next Marcher Lord to strengthen Usk castle. However, his conflict with King Henry III of England
brought the Normans new headaches.
Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford
, another holder of Usk castle, was killed at the Battle of Bannockburn
when the English crown's focus was on defeating the Scots
, and the castle was untroubled until the early 15th century. It was here, against this background, in 1352, that Adam of Usk
was born.
, between 1400 and 1405, brought significant conflict to the area once again, and the Welsh forces of Owain Gyndwr attacked Usk town in 1402. The Battle of Pwll Melyn
was fought nearby, and the region only stabilised under the efforts of local Welsh warrior and ally of King Henry IV of England
and Monmouth-born Henry V
, Davy Gam.
, and, with stabliity restored, the castle needed no further redevelopment and refortification, and was allowed to gradually decay. It passed through the English Civil War
with only some slighting
, and the castle was eventually redeveloped, and a change of use occurred when it was modified into a house in the 1680s. It remains a private residence today.
The Early Medieval re-enactment group Regia Anglorum has borrowed the Castle for its Autumn training for the last 4 years.
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...
site in the town of Usk
Usk
Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. A castle above the town overlooks the ancient Anglo-Welsh border crossing - the river can...
in central Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
, south east 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...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Location
Usk Castle is located immediately to the north of the present day town on a hill overlooking the streets and main Tywn square.Early Norman castle
Usk castle and town was probably laid out and established in 1120, after some of the other NormanNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
settlements and castle
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...
s of the region, such as Monmouth Castle
Monmouth Castle
Monmouth Castle is a castle site in the town of Monmouth, county town of Monmouthshire, south east Wales.- Location :Monmouth Castle is located close to the centre of Monmouth town on a hill towering over the River Monnow, behind shops and the main square and streets...
and Abergavenny Castle
Abergavenny Castle
Abergavenny Castle is a castle in the market town of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire in south east Wales.- A naturally fortified site :The castle was sited above the River Usk overlooking the river valley and the confluence of the rivers Gavenny and Usk. The site would have been naturally defensible in...
. However, the site had a history of previous military, strategic, and local significance, for it was here that the Romans
Roman army
The Roman army is the generic term for the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome , the Roman Republic , the Roman Empire and its successor, the Byzantine empire...
had established their early Legionary fortress before relocating it south to Caerleon
Caerleon
Caerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress, Isca Augusta, and an Iron Age hill fort...
.
Usk is first mentioned in 1138 in the context of it being captured by the Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
. It passed back into Norman hands, only to be captured by the Welsh again in 1174, as was Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
, when turmoil again developed into open conflict in this area of the Welsh Marches
Welsh Marches
The Welsh Marches is a term which, in modern usage, denotes an imprecisely defined area along and around the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom. The precise meaning of the term has varied at different periods...
.
Marcher lords
The Normans had to control and subjugate the region, and brought in Marcher Lord Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare who sought to strengthen the castle's defences against Welsh attack, but he was ambushed and killed north of Abergavenny in 1136. The Welsh duly captured Usk castle again in 1184.William Marshal was the next Marcher Lord to strengthen Usk castle. However, his conflict with King Henry III of England
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
brought the Normans new headaches.
Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford
Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford
Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford, 7th Earl of Gloucester was a powerful English noble. Also known as "Red" Gilbert de Clare, probably because of his hair colour.- Lineage :...
, another holder of Usk castle, was killed at the Battle of Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
when the English crown's focus was on defeating the Scots
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and the castle was untroubled until the early 15th century. It was here, against this background, in 1352, that Adam of Usk
Adam of Usk
Adam of Usk was a Welsh priest, canonist, and late medieval historian and chronicler.- Patronage :Born at Usk in what is now Monmouthshire, southeast Wales, Adam received the patronage of Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March, who inherited the Lordship of Usk through his wife Philippa...
was born.
Owain Glyndwr
The rebellion of Owain GlyndwrOwain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
, between 1400 and 1405, brought significant conflict to the area once again, and the Welsh forces of Owain Gyndwr attacked Usk town in 1402. The Battle of Pwll Melyn
Battle of Pwll Melyn
The Battle of Pwll Melyn, also known as the Battle of Usk, was part of the Welsh War of Independence against English rule that lasted from 1400 to 1415. This key battle in the Glyndŵr Rising occurred in the spring of 1405. The defeat of the Welsh rebels here was devastating and included the loss of...
was fought nearby, and the region only stabilised under the efforts of local Welsh warrior and ally of King Henry IV of England
Henry IV of England
Henry IV was King of England and Lord of Ireland . He was the ninth King of England of the House of Plantagenet and also asserted his grandfather's claim to the title King of France. He was born at Bolingbroke Castle in Lincolnshire, hence his other name, Henry Bolingbroke...
and Monmouth-born Henry V
Henry V of England
Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
, Davy Gam.
Duchy of Lancaster
After the rebellion, the castle passed to the hands of the Duchy of LancasterDuchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
, and, with stabliity restored, the castle needed no further redevelopment and refortification, and was allowed to gradually decay. It passed through the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
with only some slighting
Slighting
A slighting is the deliberate destruction, partial or complete, of a fortification without opposition. During the English Civil War this was to render it unusable as a fort.-Middle Ages:...
, and the castle was eventually redeveloped, and a change of use occurred when it was modified into a house in the 1680s. It remains a private residence today.
Today
Today, the remains are quite substantial, and worth a visit to view this hidden gem. The castle has many interesting points such as the dovecot tower, and although a private residence, events are held throughout the summer months.The Early Medieval re-enactment group Regia Anglorum has borrowed the Castle for its Autumn training for the last 4 years.