Aberystwyth Caste Ruins, New Promenade, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
Posted by: Ddraig Ddu
N 52° 24.792 W 004° 05.370
30U E 425896 N 5807555
Although being a castle in Wales, this strategic building (now ruins) was used by the English in 1415 to hold French prisoner of war during the Hundred years war.
Waymark Code: WMB35F
Location: South Wales, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 03/29/2011
Views: 3
Initial construction origins dating from 1277, Aberystwyth Castle was finally completed in 1289. Another in the long line of Edward I castles, after his defeat of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the Welsh didn't give up on recapturing it back and there were two Welsh uprisings. Indeed in 1404 Owain Glyndwr succeeded in capturing it back, although it was taken back again by the English in 1408 after a prolonged campaign.
The English recognised it's strategically important position and established Aberystwyth Castle as a key seat of Welsh government. It's time as a prison was for holding French prisoners in 1415, and later in 1637 a royal mint was even set up here.
The arrangement of bardic circle stones you see within the castle walls today were put up for the 1916 Eisteddfod. Also up here is a war memorial, a kids playground and lots of places to sit and picnic whilst admiring splendid views out to Cardigan Bay.
The Lancastrian War was the third phase of the Anglo-French Hundred Years' War. It lasted from 1415, when Henry V of England invaded Normandy, to 1429 when English successes were reversed by the arrival of Joan of Arc. It followed a long period of peace from 1389 at end of the Caroline War.
It was called the Lancastrian War because it had its beginnings in the plans of Henry IV, the first of the House of Lancaster to sit on the English throne. Though his plans never came to fruition in his reign, his warlike son reinvigorated them and brought the English to the height of their power in France with an English king crowned in Paris.
With thanks to Wikipedia and www.iknow-wales.com for the history of the Castle and the Hundred Years war. link at:- (
visit link)