Clan Rising
Haverfordwest Castle today

Wales · Partial ruin

Haverfordwest Castle

Castell Hwlffordd

Haverfordwest Castle is a medieval castle in the centre of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, sited at the end of a defensible ridge above the town. Much of the surviving fabric dates to a major 1290 rebuilding associated with Queen Eleanor; the site includes a square north‑east keep, extensive curtain walls and several corner towers.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1200

Its prime

1290

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1290

What Haverfordwest Castle looked like in its prime.

Perched at the end of a steep town ridge, the castle presents an extensive stone curtain wall pierced by three tall arched window openings in the great-hall façade and flanked by towers: a large square keep in the north‑east inner ward, round towers at the north‑west and south‑west corners, and a square south‑east tower with a projecting turret and a basement postern. The north side includes a semicircular turret and an eastern square tower; masonry is variegated brown‑grey rubble; at its prime the walls and towers were complete and roofed.

Its story

The story of Haverfordwest Castle.

Haverfordwest Castle sits in a naturally defensive position at the end of a strong, isolated ridge in the centre of the town. Most sources say the stone keep-and-bailey fortress was founded in 1120 by Gilbert de Clare, Marcher Earl of Pembroke, though Pembrokeshire records insist it was built by Tancred the Fleming, husband of Gwladus, the Flemish having settled the area in 1108 to protect Pembroke Castle from Welsh raiders.

Henry II paid the castle its first royal visit in 1173, on his way back from Ireland. In 1248 Humphrey II de Bohun acquired it and resisted an attack by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Gwynedd, in 1257; William de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, took it in 1265 during the Second Barons' War, but in 1274 it was granted back to the de Bohuns.

In 1284 King Edward I and Queen Eleanor of Castile visited during a royal pilgrimage to St Davids, and four years later the queen borrowed a huge sum to purchase the castle from the de Bohun family, loaning £407 to rebuild it fully in stone. Much of what stands today, the square north-east keep, extensive curtain walls and corner towers, dates from that 1290 rebuilding, and for centuries the castle remained an English stronghold.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1290.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Haverfordwest Castle, including 2 interiors: inner ward facing the north‑east square keep, great hall on the south side. 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 from the town on the ridgeWest gatehouse and original entranceInner ward facing the north‑east square keepSouth‑east square tower with projecting turret and posternSouth‑west round tower and battlementsGreat hall on the south sideNorth curtain wall with semicircular turret and eastern square towerInner bailey courtyard and foundations of domestic ranges

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Whose castle

Clans who held Haverfordwest Castle.

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

  • Bohun

    Acquired by Humphrey II de Bohun in 1248 and held, with an interruption in the Second Barons' War, until Queen Eleanor of Castile purchased it from the family in 1288.

Questions about Haverfordwest Castle

What is the history of Haverfordwest Castle?

Haverfordwest Castle began as a Norman stone keep-and-bailey fortress in the 12th century, built to establish and protect a stronghold in a naturally defensive position. Humphrey II de Bohun acquired it in 1248, and it resisted an attack by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in 1257. Queen Eleanor of Castile purchased it in 1288 and funded a major rebuilding completed in 1290.

What is inside Haverfordwest Castle?

Inside Haverfordwest Castle are the inner ward, the great hall and the inner bailey courtyard. The great hall lies on the south side and has high windows, while the inner ward faces the square north-east keep. Foundations of domestic ranges can also be seen in the inner bailey.

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

Haverfordwest Castle was built as a fortified keep-and-bailey stronghold in a naturally defensive position. Its purpose was military, and its defences were strengthened after repeated attacks in the early 13th century. The derelict castle was later converted to a prison in 1779; the prison building subsequently became a police station, council offices and a town museum.

Where is Haverfordwest Castle?

Haverfordwest Castle is in the centre of Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. It stands at the end of a strong, isolated ridge above the town, in a naturally defensive position.

When was Haverfordwest Castle built?

Haverfordwest Castle was first raised in the 12th century, with the supplied dates placing its beginnings in 1120 or 1200. It was rebuilt in stone in several phases, and much of the surviving architecture dates from the major rebuilding completed in 1290.

Was Haverfordwest Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Haverfordwest Castle was attacked several times. Llywelyn Fawr burned the town in 1220 but failed to take the castle; Humphrey II de Bohun resisted Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in 1257; and the castle held against an attack during Owain Glyndŵr's War in 1405. During the Civil War, Royalists held it before finally surrendering after the Battle of Colby Moor.

Which family or clan held Haverfordwest Castle?

The Bohun family held Haverfordwest Castle from Humphrey II de Bohun's acquisition in 1248, apart from an interruption during the Second Barons' War. Queen Eleanor of Castile purchased it from the de Bohun family in 1288.

What did Haverfordwest Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Haverfordwest Castle had extensive stone curtain walls and roofed towers. Its silhouette included a large square keep in the north-east inner ward, round towers at the north-west and south-west corners, and a square south-east tower with a projecting turret and basement postern. The masonry was variegated brown-grey rubble.

Is Haverfordwest Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Haverfordwest Castle is a partial ruin, although substantial fabric survives. The extensive curtain wall remains, along with the square north-east keep, corner towers and much of the north side. The castle was heavily rebuilt in stone, with much of the surviving work dating from the 1290 rebuilding.

Who built Haverfordwest Castle?

Haverfordwest Castle was commissioned by Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke. The supplied material does not identify a separate architect, while the castle's original construction is also attributed in some accounts to Tancred the Fleming.

Can you visit Haverfordwest Castle?

Haverfordwest Castle is open to the public and is operated by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. The former prison building within the grounds houses the town museum, with artefacts including a cell door, leg irons and the original lock from the castle gate.

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