Clan Rising
Crickhowell Castle today

Wales · Ruin

Crickhowell Castle

Castell Crucywel

Crickhowell Castle is a largely ruined medieval fortification in Crickhowell, Wales, now represented mainly by the surviving stone tower remnant on Castle Green and the earthwork motte. Originally founded as a motte-and-bailey in the early 12th century, it was refortified in stone from 1242 and later damaged and abandoned in the early 15th century.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1242

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1242

What Crickhowell Castle looked like in its prime.

Perched on an oval motte above the town, the castle in its prime had a continuous stone curtain enclosing a large bailey and several substantial projecting stone towers; the shell keep foundations sat atop the raised earthen mound. The masonry is roughly coursed local stone, grey-brown in tone, forming tall, solid walls with regularly spaced arrow slits and large arched openings at lower levels. The bailey lay on the gentler slopes below, opening to the surrounding Usk valley and town.

Its story

The story of Crickhowell Castle.

Crickhowell began as a motte-and-bailey castle raised from around 1121, probably by Robert Turberville of the notable Norman family, then a tenant of the Marcher lord Bernard de Neufmarché. The Turbervilles held it through the 13th century, Henry de Turberville and later Hugh Turberville both served as Seneschal of Gascony, and the castle was refortified in stone from 1242.

Hugh Turberville, who held Crickhowell from 1273 as mesne lord rather than tenant-in-chief, fought against Rhys ap Maredudd in his rising of 1287–91 and died in 1293, the last of the family in the direct line. In the 14th century the castle passed into the hands of the powerful Mortimer dynasty of Marcher Lords, declining as a smaller holding within their large portfolio of lands, titles and greater castles.

Damaged and abandoned in the early 15th century, the castle survives as the stone tower remnant on Castle Green and the earthwork motte, and is a Grade I listed building. An alternative name, "Alisby's Castle", is thought to recall a former governor, Gerald Alisby.

Step inside

7 places to explore in 1242.

The record describes 7 distinct spots at Crickhowell Castle, including 1 interior: interior chamber of the stone tower. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach path onto Castle GreenFront face of the surviving double towerView through the large ground-level archTop of the motte and shell keep siteThe castle baileyInterior chamber of the stone towerOverlook to the Usk valley from the motte

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1242, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Crickhowell Castle.

The families that held Crickhowell Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Turberville

    Held by the Turbervilles from the castle's founding c. 1121 until the death of Hugh Turberville in 1293, last of the direct line.

  • Mortimer

    In the hands of the Mortimer dynasty of Marcher Lords through the 14th century.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Crickhowell Castle.

Tintern Abbey, WalesAncient siteTintern Abbey36 km away

Questions about Crickhowell Castle

What is the history of Crickhowell Castle?

Crickhowell Castle began as a motte-and-bailey fortification around 1121, probably built by Robert Turberville. It was refortified in stone from 1242, passed to the Mortimer dynasty in the 14th century, and declined as a smaller holding. It was damaged and abandoned in the early 15th century, leaving a ruined stone tower and earthwork motte.

Why was Crickhowell Castle built, and what was it used for?

Crickhowell Castle was raised as a motte-and-bailey fortress, probably to establish and hold a Marcher lordship. Stone refortification from 1242 created substantial towers, a curtain wall and a large bailey. Its military importance later declined as it became a smaller holding within the Mortimer dynasty’s wider lands.

What is inside Crickhowell Castle?

Crickhowell Castle has a documented interior chamber in the surviving stone tower. The visible remains also include the tower’s large ground-level arch, the top of the motte and the shell keep site. Most of the castle is ruined, so the supplied descriptions focus on surviving spaces and archaeological remains rather than complete rooms.

When was Crickhowell Castle built?

Crickhowell Castle was first built around 1121, in the early 12th century, as a motte-and-bailey. It was substantially refortified in stone from 1242, creating a later medieval stone fortress. The first-raised year is not recorded more precisely in the site record.

Was Crickhowell Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Crickhowell Castle was attacked by Welsh rebels led by Seisyllt ap Rhirid in 1172. It was largely destroyed about 1403 by the forces of Owain Glyndŵr, after a 1400 royal order had prompted its refortification. The later assault left the castle abandoned, with only the ruined stone double tower and other remains surviving.

Which family or clan held Crickhowell Castle?

Crickhowell Castle was held by the Turbervilles from its founding around 1121 until Hugh Turberville died in 1293, the last of the family in the direct line. The Mortimer dynasty of Marcher Lords held it through the 14th century. These families controlled the castle during its main medieval phases.

Where is Crickhowell Castle?

Crickhowell Castle stood on an elevated spur in Crickhowell, where a tributary stream meets the River Usk. The motte is above the town, with the surviving remains overlooking the Usk valley. The nearby playing field contains traces of the castle bailey.

What did Crickhowell Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Crickhowell Castle had a continuous stone curtain enclosing a large bailey, with several substantial projecting stone towers. A shell keep stood on the raised oval motte. Its roughly coursed local stone was grey-brown, forming tall solid walls with regularly spaced arrow slits and large arched openings at lower levels.

Is Crickhowell Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Crickhowell Castle is now a largely ruined medieval fortification. The main surviving remains are the stone double tower remnant on Castle Green, the earthwork motte and buried foundations of the shell keep. Traces of the bailey remain nearby, while later stone-robbing contributed to the castle’s present condition.

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