castle castle ruined medieval fortification located town wales castle built anglo norman lord norman invasion wales site overlooked river controlled strategic road ford running castle designed oval probably topped fence defences reused remains roman fort centuries castle involved conflicts attacked burnt probably welsh uprising captured forces great acquired castle repaired constructing stone curtain wall replace older defences attacked castle reinforced stone tower second half 13th century declined importance late medieval period 19th century castle ivy 21st century controlled welsh heritage agency operated tourist attraction ruined tower fragments curtain wall survive defences resemble mound castle park history 1st 4th centuries castle located kilometres west south west wales overlooking site romans military fort sequence running fort took celtic location provided good visibility region enabled support naval units operating controlled ford river ford probably emerged time roman period high tide fort built middle 2nd century romans late 3rd early 4th century abandoned military 11th 12th centuries began incursions onwards pushing westwards bases recently occupied england advance marked construction castles frequently old roman sites example cardiff creation regional roman sites way produced considerable savings manpower required construct large earth fortifications early castles castle constructed western edge welsh land unit castle built shortly earl given anglo norman region followed territory enjoying extensive local independence castle strategically important controlled main road running main base castle valuable coastal port castle took corruption title roman fort 12th century castle defended south steep slope ground running river designed oval today metres metres metres high protected ditch metres wide metres deep roman fort corner visible earthworks 12th century builders construction core river gravel coarse sand finer sand clay forming surface layer protective fence earthworks possibly form early stone wooden tower gateway north unclear kind buildings constructed inside kitchen certainly built east enclosure half 12th century violent period extensive fighting occurring anglo local welsh castle attacked burnt middle century probably welsh rebellion devastated area henry_ii later agreed peace terms castle rebuilt inside partially filled debris attack point decades bank deliberately widened places allowing buildings constructed changes started process filling middle led castle today having mound like appearance end 12th century stone buildings constructed centre metres metres castle probably passed control time lieu debts owed earl war broke south west wales death henry_ii sons attempted reclaim region 13th 14th centuries continued extensive fighting 13th century castle given king john ally william powerful lord related extended family john william argued relationship broke king attempted william lands region william allied welsh prince great war broke william died son continued fighting married daughter castle captured forces control granted years later peace english crown removed power replacing contemporary recorded deliberately destroyed castles campaign dominate area married daughters margaret nephew gave castle john appears set repairing work stone curtain wall built castle included port north castle castle inherited john son turn son called william second half century wales saw renewal fighting castle attacked decision taken improve castle defences square stone tower added castle provide living accommodation chambers floor containing fireplace gateway constructed curtain wall south tower stone buildings constructed castle walls granted estate life exchange annual fee collar death lands seized william son law john involved rebellion executed later successfully appealed king granted lands instead edward fell power lands granted son john 15th 21st centuries importance surrounding town declined late medieval period 19th century castle ruined years covered ivy castle painted artist 1850s depicted ruins alongside local industries new railway line cut remains roman fort 1940s south east corner castle tower collapsed corner fell ground intact archaeological value decided leave fallen stonework place ground risk damaging removing castle given control welsh heritage agency operated tourist attraction castle sits grounds small castle park archaeological investigations carried castle protected scheduled monument law curtain wall stolen destroyed medieval period fragments remain metres high ruins tower remain prominent feature local area
Loughor Castle