Caerphilly Castle

Linda Syms

Caerphilly Castle

!It is the largest castle in Wales and the second largest in Britain, Built mainly between 1268 and 1271, it is an early example of a concentric castle.

The west mound was extended south to create a dam across the Nant Gledwr, leading to the formation of a large defensive lake south of the main castle. The dam was fortified on both sides and had a gatehouse to the south which received the access road; this where the town of Caerphilly later grew up.

The central island was the site of the main structure of the castle, comprising a retaining wall (the middle ward with gatehouses east and west, and an inner ward with east and west gatehouses and circular corner towers.

To the west, a further ditch separated the spur forming a western island; this had a retaining wall, and was levelled, but no stone fortifications were built here.

To the north a ditch and bank formed a defensive moat.

In the final phase the dam was extended north to form another lake to the north of the moat and bank, and a further moat and bank to the west, while an outer gatehouse and outwork in the middle of the dam gave access to the west.

The whole was built over a four year period, and the layout was modified only slightly thereafter. the castle covered an area of 30 acres, making it one of the largest castles in Europe.!

Caerphilly Castle belongs to the following groups:

! $$☻The Christmas Shop (Get Art Promoted)☺ !, All Castles Around The World, Swansea Art; Painters, Photographers, Designers & Writers, The Scavenger Hunt and UK to Australia and Back Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints
Caerphilly Castle by Linda Syms
Caerphilly Castle by Linda Syms

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castle, heritage, linda and wales