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But the Welsh were castle builders too, defending their land from each other and from invasion, and protecting important routes. Cadw booklet: The Castles of the Lords and Princes of Wales (PDF) Fewer than 30 surviving castles in Wales are formally recorded as Welsh foundations, though the original number must have been much higher. Cadw booklet: The Castles of the Lords and Princes of Wales (PDF)

Most castles in Wales were built by the kings of England or the Anglo-Norman lords of the March, the borderland between England and Wales. Cadw booklet: The Castles of the Lords and Princes of Wales (PDF)

Llywelyn ap Iorwerth, Llywelyn the Great, was the undisputed ruler of Gwynedd from 1201 to his death in 1240. Cadw: Castell Dolwyddelan Cadw calls Llywelyn ap Iorwerth the most active castle builder among the Welsh princes. Cadw booklet: The Castles of the Lords and Princes of Wales (PDF)

A granite monolith at Cilmeri marks where Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the last native prince of Wales, is believed to have been killed in 1282. Cadw: Castles of the Lords and Princes of Wales His death marked the end of independent, native rule in Wales. Cadw: Castles of the Lords and Princes of Wales

Edward I led two campaigns in Wales, in 1276–77 and 1282–83, to defeat the Welsh princes and bring Wales under English rule. Cadw: The Castles and Town Walls of King Edward Between 1276 and 1295 many castles were built or repaired. Cadw: The Castles and Town Walls of King Edward

Cadw calls Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech the finest castles Edward I built in Wales. Cadw: The Castles and Town Walls of King Edward The four castles and two sets of town walls became a World Heritage Site in 1986. Cadw: The Castles and Town Walls of King Edward

James of St George (about 1230–1309) was Edward I’s chief architect; UNESCO calls him the greatest military architect of the age. UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd

Concentric castles have “walls within walls”: an inner ring of defences inside an outer one. Cadw: Castell Rhuddlan Rhuddlan, begun in 1277, was the first of James of St George’s concentric castles. Cadw: Castell Rhuddlan

Welsh castles had lower walls, and characteristic D-shaped (not round) towers that were the real strongholds. Cadw: More about Castell Dolwyddelan A Welsh D-shaped tower is rectangular with one half-rounded end: a roomy living chamber, with a wide field of fire from the rounded end. Cadw booklet: The Castles of the Lords and Princes of Wales (PDF)

Gilbert de Clare began Caerphilly in 1268, fearing Llywelyn ap Gruffudd; it is the biggest castle in Wales. Cadw: Caerphilly Castle With its water defences it covers 30 acres, second only to Windsor in Britain. Cadw: Caerphilly Castle

Cadw lists Castell y Bere as free entry, open all year in reasonable daylight hours. Cadw: Castell y Bere · checked 31 Oct 2026 Cadw lists Dolbadarn as free entry and open all year. Cadw: Castell Dolbadarn · checked 31 Oct 2026

At KS3, pupils study Church, state and society in Medieval Britain 1066–1509. GOV.UK (DfE): National curriculum in England, history programmes of study KS3 examples include English campaigns to conquer Wales and Scotland up to 1314. GOV.UK (DfE): National curriculum in England, history programmes of study