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The Abergavenny Castle stands in ruins above the River Usk in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, in Wales. The Castle is free to access however the Museum may occasionally hold special events and exhibits which may incur a price of admission. First built in the 11th century, the location defended from Welsh attacks from the north and western lowlands. The scene of bloody history, the castle was slighted during the English Civil War.
Visiting Abergavenny Castle
Parking
Parking near the castle is available to visitors who wish to use the museum or view the castle ruins. The parking fees are based on the pay and display system. Unfortunately, coaches may not access the grounds. Alternative parking is available at Castle Street car park or the bus station located by the tourist information centre.
Price
Admission to the castle and museum is free to the public, although some charges may apply at the museum when they hold special events or exhibits.
Opening
The Castle Museum is open every day from 11am to 4pm, except for Wednesdays.
Location & Access
The Castle
Castle Street
Abergavenny
Monmouthshire
NP7 5EE
Contact: 01873854282
For Sat Nav purposes, the postcode is NP7 5EE
Abergavenny Castle is situated at the end of Castle Street and can be accessed by vehicle turning left at the upper end of Castle Street and Monk Street. Alternatively, one may drive up Castle Street to the castle gates straight ahead.
The area is well signposted and easy to access. The nearest train station is Abergavenny Station, approximately 1 km (0.62 mi) from the castle.
Facilities
The Abergavenny Castle Museum offers several fun activities and a regular program of changing exhibitions. Some of the activities on offer are:
- Family activities such as 'Castle Explorers,' where children are given a backpack with various medieval replicas, may explore the castle and its grounds
- Helpful staff to answer queries on the history of the castle
- Written sign boards with an extensive history of the castle ruins
- A small gift shop to purchase souvenirs
Know Before You Go
- Some areas of the ruins are difficult to access, so at least one able-bodied person should be present to assist.
- The grounds are uneven, and although there is ramp access, the ramp is fairly steep.
- Guide dogs are welcome.
History of Abergavenny Castle
Abergavenny Castle was the site of the infamous Christmas Massacre of the Welsh Lord Seisll ap Dyfnwal and his seven-year-old son, an event so treacherous it still rings out from the annals of history. The castle was the scene of several reprisal attacks, including the Owain Glyn Dwr Rebellion.
Time Line
-1087 (Original Build)
Hamelin de Ballon built the original motte and bailey castle on the site, a traditional fortification made of wood and earthworks. The stone rebuilding of the later style fortresses began as early as 1100.
-1175 (Christmas Day Massacre)
Historical records show that William de Braose owned the castle at this time. De Braose sought to eliminate his rival Seisyll ap Dyfnwal, the Lord of Upper Gwent and created a treacherous plan. He invited Dyfnwal and other Welsh nobles for a reconciliation feast for Christmas at the Abergavenny Castle.
After the unarmed Lords had begun feasting in the great hall, de Braose's soldiers blocked the exits and slaughtered the entire entourage, including de Dfnwal's seven-year-old son.
-1182 (Castle Attacked)
Although the English King Henry II attempted to diffuse retaliatory attacks by imposing sanctions on de Braose, Hywel ap Lorweth sent forces to attack Abergavenny Castle, causing extensive damage to the castle.
-1190 (Rebuilding)
Extensive rebuilding took place using the local old red sandstone and built five towers along the curtain walls with the keep. As the English and Welsh fought for control of the area, the castle changed hands between the two powers.
-1215
King John, King of England from 1199-1216, visited Abergavenny Castle.
-1233 (Castle Attacked)
Richard Marshall, the Earl of Pembroke and the Welsh Princes attacked the castle, which prompted substantial rebuilding.
-1295-1314 (Extensions)
The Hastings family expanded the castle during the 13th and 14th century, including the western towers and residential chambers. Historians believe that John Hastings, Ist Baron of Hastings, built the circular and polygonal towers. Occupants also created a new wall somewhere between the 13th and 14th century.
-1400
In the peace following Edward the First's conquest, most additions stalled, and the last structure built was the Barbican Gatehouse ostensibly due to the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr.
-15th Century
After the 15th century, no more lords assumed residence of the Abergavenny Castle, yet it survived relatively undamaged until the English Civil War.
-1645 (Slighted)
King Charles I ordered the castle to be slighted due to the increasing threat of the parliamentary forces. The looting of the stone further damaged the ruin remains, and many of the castle buildings fell to waste.
-1819
Henry Neville, 2nd Earl of Abergavenny, commissioned a hunting lodge built atop the castle motte, which now houses the Abergavenny Museum. Willam Neville, the 5th Earl of Abergavenny, created the formal public garden listed today on the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.
-1952
The Abergavenny Castle and the hunting lodge, which houses the museum, were declared a Grade 1 and Grade II listed building. The outer wall was listed in 2005.
Abergavenny Castle Occupants
- 1087: Hamelin de Ballon occupied the first motte and bailey structure.
- 1175: William de Braose conducted the villainous murder of Seisyll ap Dyfnwal and his young son, Cadwalladr, in the great hall. De Braose also slaughtered several Welsh Lords at the massacre.
- 1215: King John visited Abergavenny Castle.
- 13th and 14th Century: The Hastings family assumed the castle's occupancy, including John Hastings, Ist Baron of Hastings, who conducted extensive rebuilding.
Images of Abergavenny Castle
Images Supplied and licensed from Shutterstock Standard Licence Package
Abergavenny Castle Q&A
How Big Was Abergavenny Castle?
The main rectangular-shaped stone hall stood in the corner of the outer ward, between the gatehouse and the mound. One of the walls formed the central defensive structure, and the other shorter wall separated the two wards. The building measured roughly 28 m (91.86 ft) long and 8 m (26.25 ft) in width.
The castle had a main defensive wall in the west, and a thinner wall in the east, which was 1.6 m (5.25 ft) thick, surrounding the outer bailey with a diagonal of around 60 m (196.85 ft). The thickest section of the defensive wall in the north near the entrance was almost 8 ft thick (2.44 m). The 14th-century gatehouse took the form of a quadrangle measuring 8 by 12 m (26.25 by 39.27 ft).
What Remains of the Abergavenny Castle?
Large fragments of the defensive wall, the polygonal and round tower, and the 14th-century gatehouse remain. Only the outer walls are left, but at some places, they are still four storeys high. The top floor still exhibits an arched window and visible remains of medieval garderobes (toilets) and a spiral staircase.
In the centre of the lawns, visitors may view the underground cellar that may have functioned as a dungeon in the castle's bloody past. For safety reasons, custodians of the site placed fences to protect the public from entering the underground chamber. The 1800s lodge still stands atop the original motte, built on its medieval foundations.
As the scene of numerous attacks and infamous treacheries, the castle now stands in ruins. Originally, the castle had a stone keep, towers, and a protective ditch formation for protection. The bailey, which was a kind of courtyard enclosed by palisades, housed the castle's entourage, while the motte housed a great hall, cellars, kitchens, and a gatehouse and chapel.
A 12th-century curtain wall remains for visitors to view as well as a 14th-century gatehouse. Visitors may find The Abergavenny Museum in the Victorian building built on top of the motte in the 19th century.
How Old Is Abergavenny Castle?
The Abergavenny Castle monument holds the remains of a medieval baronial castle dating back to the 13th and 15th centuries. The site contains some later alterations, such as the early 19th-century hunting lodge and historic park. The original structure predated these structures and took the form of a motte and bailey fort, which historians believe were built by Hamelin de Ballon in 1087.
Location of Abergavenny Castle
Abergavenny Castle is located west off the main road on the southern approach to the centre of town. The castle site occupies a strategic position above the River Usk valley and suited fortification against Welsh uprisings into the lowlands.The construction over the centuries overlay a likely motte and bailey structure and the location of the later medieval construction remains on the same location.