Swansea Castle

-1106

William the Conqueror granted Henry de Beaumont the Lordship of Gower in 1106 to establish Norman control in South-west Wales. He constructed the first castle of timber and earthwork, which historical records show was destroyed by the Welsh attack as early as 1116. 

-1136-1189

After Henry de Beaumont died in 1119, the Lordship of Gower passed to three of his descendants. However, following the death of King Henry I in 1189, a major Welsh uprising rebellion took place. The fierce fighting between Loughor and Swansea claimed some 500 Anglo-Norman lives, although no evidence suggests the Welsh attacked them at this time. 

-1192 (Siege)

After King Richard came to power, much of the truce created by his father fell away under Richard's rule. In 1192, Lord Rhys, the Prince of Deheubarth, laid siege to the Swansea Castle for over ten weeks, attempting to starve the castle occupants. The castle, however, withstood this siege as well as another earlier attack in 1189. 

-1203

King John I granted his favourite, William de Braose, the lordship of Gower; however, his favour was fickle, and de Braose fled to France, where he died in 1211. His wife and son were not as fortunate and were imprisoned in Windsor Castle and starved to death. The de Braose family sought allegiance with the powerful Wesh lord Llywelyn ap Lorwerth and entered into war with the crown.

-1212 (Rebellion)

Rhys Grug, the son of Rhys in allegiance with, sacked and burned Swansea while the castle was still under the command of King John. The castle briefly returned to the de Braose hands, but Rhys Grug again attempted to rid the English from the area and attacked Gower. After King John's death, the de Braose clan entered into reconciliation with King Henry III and once again allied themselves with the crown. 

-1220

John de Broase once again assumed control of Gower and rebuilt much of the timber and earthwork castle in stone. On his death in 1232, the lordship passed to William de Braose II, under royal guardianship, until he reached majority in 1241.

-1276-1283

The two Wars of Welsh independence substantially altered the political landscape of Wales. The definitive conquest of the Welsh by Edward I reduced the threat of the uprisings and rebellions that plagued the land for centuries. With lessened military necessity, William de Braose set about making the castle fit for a lordly residence.

-1280s

William de Brosae started work on the "new castle", much of the ruins we see today. He set about to build a suite of rooms for residence and a great hall for entertaining and a private family area called a solar tower with cellars constructed below it. 

-1287

The Welsh again launched an attack on Gower and captured Oystermouth Castle nearby. William Cragh, one of the Welsh soldiers delightfully named William the Scabby, was caught in Swansea Castle and sentenced to hang. He offered compensation to William de Braose II, who refused and sealed the poor man's fate.

His first hanging was cut short by a fallen beam, and they hanged him again until sunset. According to historical documents, when his family recovered the body, he miraculously returned to life, living another 18 years. 

-1291

William de Brasoe III became Lord of Gower and set about making the castle fit for a lord. He added a garderobe and window seats and additions to the castle in keeping with modern styles of architecture. 

-1320

Williams' only son passed away, and he made his eldest daughter Alina and her husband John de Mowbray his heirs to his estate and Lordship of Gower. King Edward attempted to seize the castle and grant the state to his ally, Hugh Despenser, causing the Barons to revolt against the crown.

-1322 

Mobray seized Gower but was captured in battle and sentenced to death by hanging at the orders of the King. Alina and her son, John, suffered imprisonment in the notorious Tower of London until Edward I died in 1331. 

-1331 

John de Mowbray became Lord of Gower and embellished the castle with an arcaded parapet walk that still stands today. Moving into a social circle, the de Mowbray's did not spend much time in the castle and prefered their English estates. Stewards mostly ran their affairs in the castle, adding another building in the castle bailey called Place House. 

-1402

After several years of peace, Owain Glyndŵr supporters claimed him Prince of Wales. In the corresponding rebellion, Owain's forces had attacked most of the English occupied castles. Sir Hugh Waterton commenced repairs on Swansea Castle in preparation for a potential attack.

 

Yeoman archers and military forces were garrisoned at Swansea Castle and spies to forewarn of a potential attack by Owain. Historical records are unclear as to whether the Welsh rebels attacked Swansea Castle or not. 

-1455-1487

Lord Herbert Raglan, the Lord of Gower, ordered gunports to be added to the castle during the tumultuous War of the Roses. His successors included Earls of Worcester, Marquis of Worcester and Dukes of Beaufort, who ruled the territory in absentia until the 20th Century.

-1647

Oliver Cromwell was granted the Lordship of Gower, but the castle at this time was mostly abandoned. By 1650, historical records refer to the castle as ruined. 

-1678-1770s

Artwork of the period depicts the castle as a glass blowing factory, and excavations support this theory. In 1700, the townspeople built a town hall in the castle courtyard, and in 1750, the once Great Hall became a poorhouse or workhouse. By the 1770s, the grand old courtyard was a market, and soon other buildings filled Castle Lane. Some Georgian residences sprung up on the site of the castle. 

-Early 19th Century

As the industrial revolution took hold, a post office replaced the town hall, and industrial buildings sprung up in the ditch between the old and new castle. Growing commerce prompted the industrialists to convert the curve of the old river and dig out a new depth to make a more direct route to the sea.

Although the dock was filled in the 1930s, it still bears the name The Strand, referring to the river that flowed at the base of the castle walls. 

-The Mid-1800s

The square tower of the castle was a debtors prison, where the unfortunate occupants had to provide their furnishings and income, sometimes with their whole family.

-The 1930s 

Celebrated poet Dylan Thomas worked at the South Wales Daily Post situated in the castle courtyard.  

-The Mid-1900s

Swansea was the site of intensive bombings during WWII, which destroyed the daily post buildings that occupied the castle courtyard. The council only removed the debris in 1976, where the future of the castle was still uncertain. 

-1952-Today

The castle received a grade I heritage listing in 1952 and is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument. In early 2010, a collaborative project funded by European Regional Development Fund and Welsh Government opened the castle to the public. They also added a chrome paved courtyard and information panels.