cardiff castle cardiff castle welsh medieval castle revival mansion located city centre cardiff wales original bailey castle built late 11th century norman invaders 3rd century roman fort castle commissioned william formed heart medieval town cardiff lord territory 12th century castle began rebuilt stone probably robert gloucester shell substantial defensive walls erected work conducted 6th earl gloucester second half 13th century cardiff castle repeatedly involved conflicts anglo welsh attacked times 12th century stormed revolt held families centuries castle acquired richard conducted extensive work castle founding main range west castle dominated tall octagonal tower following wars roses status castle territory revoked military significance began decline family took property parts main range carrying construction work outer bailey occupied cardiff buildings english civil war cardiff castle initially taken parliamentary force regained royalist supporters fighting broke royalist army attacked cardiff bid regain castle leading battle outside city cardiff castle escaped potential destruction parliament war instead garrisoned protect possible scottish invasion century cardiff castle passed hands employed main range turning georgian mansion landscape castle grounds older medieval buildings walls half 19th century family extremely wealthy result growth coal industry wealth extensive programme renovations castle gothic revival style money attention main range resulting interior designs considered magnificent gothic revival achieved grounds following discovery old roman remains reconstructed walls gatehouse roman style incorporated castle design extensive parks built outside castle early 20th century fourth inherited castle construction work continued 1920s lands commercial interests cardiff sold period time second world war little left castle war extensive air raid shelters built castle walls able hold people died castle given city cardiff today castle run tourist attraction grounds housing regimental museum interpretation centre castle served venue events including musical performances festivals history 1st 4th centuries future site cardiff castle romans defensive location years fort probably built occupied rectangular structure larger current site formed southern roman border wales conquest border advanced defences important fort replaced sequence smaller fortifications north current site fourth fort built middle 3rd century order combat pirate threat coast forms basis roman remains seen castle site fort square design approximately feet feet large constructed limestone brought sea fort irregular shape determined flowed west walls sea come closer site case 21st century fort directly overlooked harbour roman fort probably occupied end 4th century unclear finally abandoned evidence occupation site 11th century 11th century began incursions late onwards pushing westwards bases recently occupied england advance marked construction castles frequently old roman sites creation regional reuse roman sites produced considerable savings manpower required construct large earth fortifications cardiff castle built period possible dates construction possible built castle cardiff early return pilgrimage alternatively norman fortification constructed lord gloucester invaded region castle base occupation rest southern years site close sea easily supplied ship protected controlled old roman road running coast cardiff castle bailey design old roman walls collapsed remains basis outer castle perimeter digging defensive trench throwing foot high bank earth roman fortifications divided castle internal wall form inner outer bailey north west corner castle wooden constructed foot tall earth surrounded foot wide moat largest built wales overall size castle acres inner bailey acres size mills essential local communities period castle mill located outside west castle fed local feudal law residents cardiff required use mill grind grain conquered lands given packages called knights fees knights held lands condition provided forces protect cardiff castle approach called castle guard system knights required maintain buildings called houses castle outer bailey anglo saxon peasants settled region cardiff bringing english customs welsh lords continued rule remote districts independently 14th century cardiff castle lord territory enjoying special privileges independence english crown medieval town cardiff spread south castle 12th 14th centuries fatally injured battle died shortly henry gave castle robert gloucester king illegitimate son husband daughter failed attempt duke normandy william eldest son england henry robert normandy imprisoned castle death robert held castle troubled years anarchy england wales passed son middle century possibly foot wide foot high shell constructed stone wall south west sides inner bailey shell architectural links similar design castle building work probably undertaken response threat posed following welsh uprising tensions welsh continued raided castle took william hostage period attack followed town walls built cardiff town constructed gap castle river william died leaving daughters gloucester declared sole heir estate henry_ii contrary normal legal custom england order henry marry youngest son prince john provide extensive lands john later divorced retained control castle married death castle passed sister honour major grouping estates fortifications medieval england castle formed centre family power typically preferred reside castles gilbert son 6th earl gloucester carried building work castle late 13th century constructing black tower forms southern gateway seen today ground floor tower contained chambers rooms constructed richard probably responsible rebuilding northern eastern walls inner bailey stone inner bailey reached gatehouse eastern protected circular towers later called gate defensive work prompted threat posed hostile welsh leader prince wales richard grandson male died battle castle given younger controversial favourite poor harsh governance family encouraged welsh rebellion crushed hanged drawn hugh orders execution attracted criticism english welsh communities hugh arrested sir incident executing castle grounds conflict broke soon leading castle sacked war recovered castle retained rest century despite execution treason charter granted castle constable facto mayor cardiff controlling local courts 15th 16th centuries 15th century increasingly main residence region cardiff thomas executed charges rebellion broke leadership quickly spreading rest country cardiff castle taken rebels causing considerable damage black tower southern gatehouse process thomas death castle passed young son richard death daughter family married earl worcester death cousin earl richard acquire marriage settlement set cardiff instead built new tower alongside black tower restoring gateway extended defences constructed substantial new domestic range south west site central octagonal tower foot high sporting defensive featuring smaller turrets facing inner bailey range built stone limestone details set spur bases characteristic incorporated parts older 4th 13th century walls buildings influenced similar work previous century windsor castle turn shape renovations newport octagonal tower architectural links built time castle flower garden built south range private access richard chambers richard rebuilt town wider defences including new stone bridge river guarded finishing work cardiff castle remained hands richard son henry henry daughter anne anne died passed marriage held death period civil strife known wars roses conflict progressed political fortunes rose fell castle passed george duke richard duke gloucester duke wife anne finally future henry_viii ascension tudor dynasty english throne end wars heralded change way wales administered welsh origin rule eased hostilities welsh english result defensive castles important henry vii formally revoked territory status cardiff castle surrounding territories bringing normal english law crown leased castle charles living cardiff later bought cardiff castle surrounding estates outer bailey contained range buildings time extensive building work carried century built outer bailey forming walled complex buildings included traditional holders castle guard lands outer bailey included gardens chapel castle continued criminals 16th century black tower prison hold burnt castle orders henry_viii visiting antiquarian described great thing strong considered good repair inner bailey built extension north end main range large windows looking new northern garden southern garden replaced kitchen garden 17th 18th centuries produced map castle noted large good repair civil war broke rival royalist supporters king charles parliament cardiff castle owned moderate castle initially held pro royalist garrison taken parliamentary forces early period war according popular tradition sneak attack secret royalist commander attacked castle turn taking surprise assault parliamentary forces local troops immediately besieged castle hours fighting garrison early rebelled parliament taking cardiff town initially failing seize castle king sent forces oxford command sir reinforce parliament naval squadron provide support forces sea small battle ensued castle taken royalist military position country came cardiff castle july meet local welsh leaders relations commander region sir people deteriorated badly charles left castle confronted small army angry locals demanding given control castle declared army increased demands include near independence region negotiations compromise found royal garrison quit castle replaced local force commanded sir return force thousand men promised charles september charles returned agreement disbanding military position region collapsing leaders switched sides forced surrender cardiff castle parliament mid september outbreak fresh fighting royalist army fresh recruits mustered command general sir intent cardiff parliamentary forces command colonel moved quickly reinforce castle men content wait larger army arrive gloucester time royalist army attacked leading battle west cardiff heavy royalist defeat war cardiff castle escaped deliberate damage destruction affected castles probably threat pro royalist invasion parliamentary garrison installed instead castle remained intact continued castle restoration charles_ii castle constable continued act mayor town cardiff controlling meetings town usually appointed members important local gentry position period family control cardiff castle married twice thomas death castle passed son daughter married rose beginning family line control castle century began property intention turning residence son john grounds radically altered programme work involved son law stone wall separated inner outer destroyed gunpowder knights houses outer bailey destroyed remaining ground partially flattened area laid turf considerable work carried main additions building new wings removing older features produce contemporary 18th century appearance stripped ivy trees grown spiral path laid moat filled landscaping summer house built south east corner castle work planned property including reported proposal roof copper insert new windows turn assembly room dances projects cut short son death 19th century lord grandson john inherited title castle new began sequence investments expensive programme work enable cardiff major coal port docks particularly profitable transformed value mining land interests making family immensely wealthy family estate owned acres land second preferred live scotland cardiff castle occasionally castle saw little investment time servants maintained premises meaning cooked food brought nearby hotel castle remained centre political power base cardiff faction termed castle party violent protests rising based cardiff castle directed operations kept informed events governance city cardiff finally reformed act parliament introducing town council mayor link castle constable called john inherited title castle year old grew came existing castle believing represented mediocre half hearted example gothic style engaged architect undertake castle shared passion medieval gothic combined huge financial resources enabled rebuild property grand scale brought team supported earlier projects including contribution particular research history castle architectural imagination critical transformation work began coming age construction foot high tower built signature forest dean stone formed suite bachelor rooms comprising bedroom servant room summer winter smoking rooms externally tower working design previously unsuccessful competition entry london internally rooms decorated carvings cartoons style depicting seasons myths rested structure storeys high internal balcony band windows gave views countryside floor map world mosaic sculpture created rest castle developed work progressed rest 18th century range including construction arab room nursery library lord plan new castle followed arrangement standard victorian country house closely included lord bedroom ended highlight roof garden featuring sculpture madonna child bedroom contained extensive religious suite bathroom followed including built spot father died roof considered historian superb example genius central castle comprised storey hall library enormous hold vast library included elaborate carvings hall depicting castle time robert duke normandy decoration impressive castle completed death talented painter tower remains mould ceiling style particularly notable room working died initials date fireplace memorial central portion castle included recorded perspective prepared interiors cardiff castle widely praised historian considers magnificent gothic revival achieved described dimensional fairy kingdoms realms gold praises successful fantasy castles nineteenth century exterior castle received mixed reception critics romantic silhouette building architect considered present picturesque happy combination varying historical styles excessively gothic style work carried castle grounds interior flattened destroying medieval roman archaeological remains lord building works uncovered remains old roman fort time 11th century leading archaeological investigations carried new walls roman style built foundations originals complete reconstructed outer medieval bank stripped away new walls grounds extensively planted trees shrubs including late 18th century 1850s castle grounds completely open public restrictions imposed replacement acres land west north castle turned castle grounds closed public altogether stables built north castle half completed 19th century animal wall built south castle decorated statues animals combination river crossing erected river park built east castle sold city cardiff 20th 21st centuries john fourth acquired castle death father family estates investments castle began rapidly reduce size cardiff grown hugely previous century population increasing coal trade began diminish industry suffered depression 1920s john inherited estates decades 20th century sold remaining assets cardiff including coal mines docks railway companies bulk land interests finally sold development work castle continued extensive restoration medieval masonry architect rebuilding tower medieval town wall alongside castle moved room new development archaeological investigations carried roman walls leading grant northern roman gatehouse second half castle stables finally completed animal wall moved 1920s west castle pre themed garden grand staircase main range torn 1930s world war extensive air raid shelters medieval walls different sections able hold people total castle barrage balloons city john fifth inherited castle death father faced considerable death duties sold lands cardiff gave castle surrounding park city behalf people cardiff family flag taken castle official hand ceremony castle protected grade listed building scheduled monument cardiff castle run tourist attraction popular sites city castle fully furnished furniture fittings castle removed subsequently disposed extensive restoration carried fittings originally designed founded housed castle main range years moved castle stables north castle new interpretation centre opened built alongside cost million castle contains firing line joint regimental museum 1st queen guards castle range cultural social events castle seen musical performances including green day capacity accommodate people 1960s 1970s castle setting sequence military
Cardiff Castle