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Table of Contents
Caernarfon Castle was considered a strong fortress in Wales. It consists of mighty towers, strategic gateways, and invincible walls. It is a symbol of the English power against the rebellion of Welsh Princes.
See the fact file below for more information on Caernarfon Castle, or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Caernarfon Castle worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Architecture
- The Caernarfon Castle is part of the ring of iron. Edward I built it on the structure of a former motte-and-bailey. It is at the banks of River Sciont between mainland North Wales and Anglesey, in Caernarfon, Gwynedd.
- The castle has four main towers: Black Tower, Chamberlain Tower, Eagle Tower, and Queen’s Tower. The Black Tower is on the south-eastern side. Its lower height was part of a former Norman Castle’s bank. In the central south, the Chamberlain Tower acts as a defense system. It was formerly called the Treasury Tower.
- The Eagle Tower is the most impressive. Its name is from the stone carving of an eagle on one of its three mighty turrets. It has large chambers for Sir Otto de Grandson, the 1st Justiciar of North Wales.
- The Queen’s Tower was also known as the Banner’s Tower in the Middle Ages. It has three floors used as living quarters.
- It has two gateways: the King’s gate and Queen’s gate. The King’s gate has trap holes to release burning oil and water to defend the castle from attackers. The smaller gate is the Queen’s gate. It is used for ships to unload their supplies.
- The castle also has a well tower. It has a 15-meter deep well that supplies water to the castle’s kitchen through channels in the thickness of the wall. It has two entrances: one to the basement and the other to the ground floor. The basement level has a watergate that is used for supplies to be delivered from the dyke. In this period, it was considered a luxury.
- The castle’s defenses are mostly its mighty walls. They were strengthened with seven polygonal walls, main towers, and two smaller towers. Towers in the north usually had three floors and basements. They have large windows, thick walls, and a defensive wall walk. These fortifications were of light limestone and brown sandstone.
- This castle was for the crushing of the princes of Wales. It is considered one of the most intimidating castles in Wales.
The Origins of Caernarfon Castle
- Norman Robert of Rhuddlan was the commander of the land of North Wales. However, William the Conqueror wanted to claim it. After the death of Robert, the Earl of Chester, who was Hugh d’ Avranches, reclaimed Norman control. To mark his victory, he built three castles: at Arberlleinog, at a place they thought of as Meirionnyd, and at the Caernarfon. At first, the Caernarfon castle was under the possession of the Welsh princes in 1115. From the time of Llywelyn the Great, and later Llywelyn ap Gruffud, the princes lived in it.
- In 1282, King Edward I and royal architect James of St. George led an army of soldiers to charge the rebellion of the Welsh princes. They took over castles and built their own to show control. It included the Caernarfon castle’s stone iteration. Thus, it manifested the power of the English, together with Conwy and Harlech.
- It is a vital castle of power, the English crown’s center of administration, and where the justiciar of North Wales and the chief minister in the West Kingdom resided.
Timeline of Building Caernarfon Castle
First Phase, 1283
- The building of the castle began in 1283. Initial construction started in the western, southern, and eastern parts.
- They first worked on the dyke and the barricade to protect the castle from attackers.
- The first phase focused on earthworks, masonry, and carpentry. They finished building the Eagle Tower during this period.
- The royal couple usually visited the site to oversee construction. Master James of St. George was the architect who managed it.
Second Phase, 1294
- At the end of the first phase of construction, town walls still defended the castle, especially in the northern part.
- Madog ap Llywelyn took over the ditch. He managed to burn and damage some parts of it. However, the English won the castle back and started the repair of the damaged parts.
- They secured the north wall. After it, they constructed King’s Gate. The overall cost of the castle’s construction was £25,000 over 50 years.
1660
- There was an order to demolish the castle and the barricades of the town. The order was not followed. However, the condition of the building deteriorated. In the 70s, government-funded repairs were started. Renovations preserved the grandeur of the castle.
Conflicts
- The castle was a symbol of English power. For this reason, it became a target of attacks by the Welsh rebels. Their attacks were initially in vain until the leadership of Madog ap Llewlyn in 1294. His troops took hold of the castle for a short period.
- The tension between the Welsh and the English conquerors continuously created an uprising. One of them was by Owain Glyndŵr in 1400-1415.
- In 1401, the castle was under attack, but it was not easy for the conquerors to take hold of it. During this time, the unresolved Battle of Tuthill continued. It was nearby Caernarfon.
- In 1403-1404, the Welsh attacked the castle again with the support of their French allies. Fortunately, it had strong barricades that protected it from being taken over.
- Henry VII rose to power with the help of the Welsh. He disassembled the Marcher Lords, and opened up equality for the Welsh in law. This happened during the Tudor era.
- Throughout the conflicts, the Tudor dynasty of Welsh Origin stood up and softened the conflict between the Welsh and the English. Their involvement weakened the castle’s role, which made it neglected for some time, resulting in a dilapidated state. Despite the neglect, it became a fortress of the royalists when the English Civil War erupted.
Caernarfon Today
- The Caernarfon Castle was just a symbol of English dominance; it’s an important icon and best-preserved example of Medieval Architecture that has withstood time and countless battles.
- Caernarfon surrendered to Parliamentary forces in 1646, which paved the way for funding and preservation work through the years. It then became an Investiture of Prince Edward as Prince of Wales. Currently, it’s under the supervision of the Cadw government agenda and UNESCO declared it a world heritage site.
- Controversially, in 2015, a new glass pavilion was built that distracts from its historical figure. Nevertheless, the castle is still used for museum displays and exhibits – such as the Museum of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers showcasing the Welsh Regiment.
- The site is popular with tourists wanting to learn more about its history through informative exhibitions and displays. The remains of the town walls are a sight to behold as well.
Caernarfon Castle Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Caernarfon Castle across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Caernarfon Castle, which is a well-preserved castle in Wales representing Medieval architecture.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Caernarfon Castle Facts
- Tower of Power
- Mighty Gate
- Guess Who?
- Story Time
- Time Capsule
- My Castle, My Time
- Cause and Effect
- Trace the Events
- A Visit to the Castle
- An Important Castle
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Caernarfon Castle famous?
Caernarfon Castle is famous because it is an excellent surviving example of a medieval fortress. It is also famous for being part of the Iron Ring of castles and because of its involvement in the battles over England trying to invade and control Wales.
What happened at Caernarfon Castle?
Caernarfon Castle was the site of an intense siege. In 1294, the castle and surrounding town were sacked when Madog ap Llywelyn rebelled against the English. It took a year before England could recapture it. During the Glyndŵr Rising of 1400–1415, the castle was besieged.
Who built Caernarfon Castle?
Caernarfon Castle was built by Kind Edward I of England, starting in 1283. Edward I built it on the structure of a former motte-and-bailey at a strategic location on the banks of the River Sciont.
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Link will appear as Caernarfon Castle Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 10, 2022
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.