Harlech Castle
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Image:SDJ Harlech Castle Gatehouse.jpg Harlech Castle, located in Harlech, Wales, was constructed atop a cliff close to the sea (which has since receded). Begun in 1283 as part of Edward I's second campaign in North Wales, the castle was part of Edward's "iron ring" of castles around coastal Snowdonia. Like many of the castles in the area, Harlech, which took seven years to build, was designed by James of St. George.
Once constructed, the castle formed a concentric circle, with one line of defenses enclosed by another. The surrounding cliffs made it impossible to attack the castle except from the east, which had a powerfully-defended gatehouse. Scholars also remarked that Harlech defended "way from the sea", with a fortified stairway that runs almost 200 feet down to the foot of the rock where the castle is perched atop. This allowed the castle to have direct access to ships' supplies, however the tide has since receded so that this is no longer possible. When the castle was besieged during Madoc ap Llywelyn's campaign in 1294-1295, this stairway was used to supply the castle.
In 1404, the castle fell to Owain Glyndŵr, becoming his residence and headquarters. Four years later, after another long siege, Harlech Castle was retaken by Prince Henry (later Henry V).
In the Wars of the Roses Harlech was held by Sir Richard Tunstall as a hold-out Lancastrian stronghold in the first part of Edward IV of England's reign (1461-1470). It was the last Lancastrian fortress to surrender when it did so in 1468; it was able to withstand the seven-year siege through its being provisioned from the sea. This siege partially inspired the song "Men of Harlech".
External links
- Harlech information
- Floor Plan: Harlech Castle (speculative reconstruction / artistic interpretation)cy:Castell Harlech