Swansea Castle — Attraction in Great Britain

A medieval frontier town, Swansea is where the amazing journey of the Hanged Man in the St Thomas Way Story begins.

The natural landscape of Swansea was very different in medieval times. Perhaps most strikingly, the River Tawe flowed along a different course, further west than today, along the land directly below the castle. The street below the castle, still called ‘The Strand’, really was a shoreline in the Middle Ages.

In medieval times, Swansea was the Wild West of Anglo-Norman rule in Wales; part of an area known as the March of Wales or Welsh Marches (‘borders’), which stretched all the way into Pembrokeshire. Swansea was the main town of the Marcher Lordship of Gower, held by the de Briouze family for much of the Middle Ages.

The power of the de Briouze family – Norman colonial rulers in this Welsh landscape – is still visible in Swansea today, even though much of the medieval town is now lost. The castle ruins in the city centre are actually those of the ‘New Castle’, begun under the lordship of William de Briouze II around 1284-90, to replace the earlier Norman motte and bailey castle founded c.1106 (read more on St...

Even though you can't access inside, it's always nice to chill out near the ruins .

Early years and rebuilding

1106: The first timber castle was built by Henry de Beaumont after he was granted the Lordship of Gower.

1116, 1192, 1215, 1217: The early timber castle was attacked multiple times by Welsh forces, finally being razed in 1217. 1221–1284: William de Braose rebuilt the castle in stone, creating the "New Castle" that forms the basis of the current ruins.

Strategic importance and later uses

Strategic location: The castle was built on a cliff overlooking the River Tawe, which gave it control of the river and a vital trade route along the coast.

Medieval conflicts: The castle was re-garrisoned during the Glyndwr revolt but saw little action in later conflicts like the English Civil War. 18th-century prison: The castle was later adapted to serve as a debtor's prison.

Modern era: Today, the ruins are a stark contrast to the modern city center surrounding them, visible in...

For a defensive structure that’s almost a thousand years old, it’s reasonably well-preserved. As per the signs outside, this is not the original castle or the remnants of one, it was intact re-constructed over a 100 years later - the original castle no longer exists. Personally, I’m not sure when the grills in the window openings were fitted. While they may look old but are they actually a 1000 years old? I seriously doubt it. As this is open to the public, there are no tickets at all, one can walk in anytime and admire the “defensive” structure. Located in Castle Square, it’s adjacent to Wine Street, a street frequented by pub-goers. There are pubs and restaurants all around, including McDonald’s. Try visiting this structure in the evenings when there are fewer cars...