Ruthin Castle was built in 1277 by the first Lord Grey during Edward I's conquest of Wales. Perched above the Clwyd Valley, it withstood multiple sieges over three centuries of warfare, survived the Civil War, fell into ruin, and was restored in the Victorian era as a country house. Today it operates as a luxury hotel.
Key Facts
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Built: 1277, by Reginald de Grey, 1st Baron Grey de Ruthin, as part of Edward I's Iron Ring
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Location: Ruthin, Denbighshire, North Wales
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Materials: Red sandstone, quarried locally
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Key historical event: In 1400, Owain Glyndŵr launched his rebellion with an attack on Ruthin
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Victorian restoration: Myddelton family restored the castle from 1826; converted to luxury hotel in 2007
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Current use: Ruthin Castle Hotel, open to the public
Construction on Ruthin Castle began in 1277, initiated by the first Lord Grey. It was built as a fortification during Edward I's conquest of Wales.
Ruthin Castle History
The king was determined to bring the Welsh people under English rule, building a network of formidable castles throughout the land known as the Iron Ring.
The castle's strategic location on a hilltop overlooking the Clwyd Valley made it an ideal site for a fortification. Lord Grey oversaw the building of a medieval castle of wood and stone, featuring multiple towers, a moat, gatehouse, curtain walls, and other defensive structures.
For the next few centuries, Ruthin Castle stood as an important defence for English settlements near the Welsh Marches. As the Welsh continued to resist English rule, the castle was besieged on a number of occasions.
In 1294, during the revolt of the Welsh prince Madog ap Llywelyn, the castle was attacked but held out. An English supply train carrying food, weapons, and armour to Ruthin Castle was ambushed by Welsh forces during that revolt.
Throughout the 14th century, the castle continued to play a central role in the struggle for control of northern Wales. During the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr in 1400, the castle provided refuge for English settlers fleeing the attacking Welsh army. The strong fortifications of Ruthin Castle allowed it to withstand assault during Glyndŵr's rebellion, which damaged or destroyed many English positions throughout Wales.
For over a century, Ruthin Castle served as a key English stronghold on the strategically vital Welsh Marches. The medieval castle withstood the assaults that came against it.
The Changing of Hands
Over its centuries of history, Ruthin Castle passed through many different noble families, surviving wars, rebellions, and changing fortunes.
The original de Grey family who built the castle controlled it for roughly 150 years until 1389. Through marriage, the castle then passed to Reginald de Grey, 3rd Baron Grey de Ruthin. The de Grey family would continue holding Ruthin Castle for the next two centuries.
During the 15th-century Glyndŵr revolt, Reginald de Grey defended the castle from siege. In 1460, control of Ruthin Castle was granted to Sir William Hastings by Edward IV. When Hastings was executed in 1483 by Richard III, the castle returned to the de Greys.
English Civil War
In the early 16th century, Ruthin Castle was acquired by Thomas Cornwallis through his marriage to Jane de Grey, joining other properties owned by the prominent Cornwallis family. During the English Civil War in the mid-1600s, it was garrisoned by Charles I's Royalist supporters.
Twice besieged by Parliamentary forces during the war, Ruthin Castle was defended by Colonel William Salesbury on behalf of the king. But by the war's end, it fell under control of the Parliamentarians. In the aftermath, the castle began to deteriorate rapidly.
Piece by piece, Ruthin Castle was stripped of stone and demolished over the next century. Parts of the outer walls were taken down and building materials removed. For a period, the castle grounds were used for agricultural purposes.
From Demolition to Restoration
After surviving medieval warfare and the English Civil War, Ruthin Castle entered a long decline. Having changed ownership several times, the castle fell steadily into disrepair.
By the 18th century, Ruthin Castle was largely abandoned and in ruins. Significant parts of the walls and towers had been demolished, with stone removed for use in nearby construction projects. The grounds became pasture fields.
Many of the castle's medieval rooms had their roofing stripped, exposing the interiors to the elements. Sections of the curtain walls were pulled down. Ruthin Castle seemed destined for complete ruin.
The Myddelton Family Restoration
In 1826, the Myddelton family purchased the dilapidated castle and initiated major restoration work. Having made their fortune from lead mining, the Myddeltons had the means to rebuild Ruthin on a substantial scale.
By the 1870s, Ruthin had been transformed into a habitable manor house with rooms styled in a medieval revival manner. Many damaged sections were rebuilt from scratch. The Myddeltons turned the castle into a grand mansion in the Victorian medieval revival style. It became a popular destination for upper-class Victorian society, including Prime Minister William Gladstone, who made several visits.
The Myddelton family's investment brought Ruthin Castle back from the brink of total ruin, converting it into a private mansion that attracted prominent visitors through the Victorian and Edwardian periods.
A New Chapter as a Hotel
After operating for decades as a private residence, the castle was sold in 1962. Over the years that followed, the castle passed through several owners, and parts were divided into apartments for rental income. The costs of maintaining a historic building of this scale were considerable.
In the 1990s, the castle was purchased by Dr Peter Rainsford, beginning a major redevelopment. After extensive renovations costing millions of pounds, the castle was reopened in 2007 as a high-end hotel.
The guest rooms were designed to recreate the experience of a medieval castle, featuring four-poster beds, antique furnishings, and period fabrics. State-of-the-art amenities were installed while preserving historic decorative details. The castle grounds were landscaped into gardens, and the medieval battlements turned into walkways for guests. Ruthin Castle in its hotel form became accessible to the general public for the first time, and the building's long history as a private fortress, a ruined shell, and a Victorian manor found a new expression as a heritage destination.
Deepen Your Understanding
→ Denbigh Castle: Power and Conflict on the Welsh Marches: Another great Marcher fortress of North Wales, built in the same decade as Ruthin to secure the conquered Clwyd region.
→ Rhuddlan Castle: Edward I's Fortress of Conquest in North Wales: The first of Edward's Iron Ring castles, built in 1277 just as Ruthin was begun, controlling the Clwyd valley below.
→ Why Was Flint Castle Built? Edward I's Iron Ring Fortress: Edward I's very first Iron Ring fortification, raised in 1277 alongside Ruthin and Rhuddlan.
→ Owain Glyndŵr: The Last Prince of Wales: The Welsh leader who launched his rebellion with an attack on Ruthin in September 1400.
→ A Guide to the History of Welsh Castles: The full story of Wales's 600 castles, from earthworks to Edward I's Iron Ring.
This article is part of the Castles in Wales series. Read all articles at historiesandcastles.com/blogs/castles-in-wales.
People Also Ask
Who built Ruthin Castle?
Ruthin Castle was built by Reginald de Grey, 1st Baron Grey de Ruthin, in 1277 as part of Edward I's programme of castle construction following the first Welsh war. The de Grey family retained the castle for roughly 150 years. It later passed through the hands of Sir William Hastings, the Cornwallis family, and eventually the Myddelton family, who restored it in the 19th century. The building visitors can see today is largely the result of the Myddelton family's Victorian rebuilding, with the medieval core largely hidden beneath later alterations.
What is the connection between Owain Glyndŵr and Ruthin Castle?
Ruthin Castle holds an important place in the story of Owain Glyndŵr's rebellion. In September 1400, Glyndŵr launched his uprising against English rule by attacking the town of Ruthin during a fair. The town was sacked and burned, though the castle itself held out under the command of Reginald de Grey, 3rd Baron Grey de Ruthin. Glyndŵr's forces went on to attack several other North Welsh towns that day. The assault on Ruthin is generally regarded as the opening act of the last great Welsh revolt against English authority, which would continue for more than a decade.
Is Ruthin Castle open to the public?
Yes. Ruthin Castle operates today as a luxury hotel, Ruthin Castle Hotel, and is open to members of the public who wish to dine, stay, or attend events there. The hotel occupies the Victorian and Edwardian rebuilding of the castle and retains much of the medieval atmosphere of the original structure. The castle is particularly popular as a wedding venue. Ruthin town itself has other historic attractions, including the medieval courthouse and the square, making the castle a reasonable base for exploring Denbighshire.
When was Ruthin Castle restored?
The major restoration of Ruthin Castle was carried out by the Myddelton family, who purchased the ruined site in 1826. At that point the castle had been in decline since the English Civil War, with much of the stonework stripped for use in other buildings. The Myddeltons invested substantially over several decades, and by the 1870s had transformed the ruins into a habitable manor house in the Victorian medieval revival style. A second phase of restoration occurred after the castle's purchase in the 1990s by Dr Peter Rainsford, who converted it into the luxury hotel that opened in 2007.
Where is Ruthin Castle?
Ruthin Castle stands in the market town of Ruthin (Rhuthun in Welsh) in Denbighshire, North Wales. The town sits in the Vale of Clwyd, a fertile agricultural valley running roughly north to south through northern Denbighshire. The castle occupies a hilltop site above the town, from which it commands views across the valley. Ruthin is approximately 20 miles south-west of Chester and about 18 miles south of Rhyl. The town is also home to a medieval collegiate church, a 14th-century courthouse, and a well-preserved historic centre.
What happened to Ruthin Castle in the English Civil War?
During the English Civil War, Ruthin Castle was held for King Charles I by a Royalist garrison. It was besieged twice by Parliamentary forces, and on both occasions the defender was Colonel William Salesbury, who became celebrated for his stubborn resistance. The castle eventually fell to Parliament. After the war ended, the Parliamentarians ordered the castle slighted, meaning partially demolished, to prevent it being used as a military stronghold again. The resulting damage was severe: walls were pulled down, towers demolished, and stone removed. The castle sat in this ruined state for nearly two centuries until the Myddelton family began their restoration in 1826.
Primary Sources and Further Reading
- Davies, R. R.: The Revolt of Owain Glyn Dŵr (1995) — the definitive account of Glyndŵr's rebellion, covering the 1400 attack on Ruthin in detail.
- Pratt, D.: "Ruthin Castle and its Development," Denbighshire Historical Society Transactions (various years) — local historical research on the castle's medieval and post-medieval phases.
- Cadw: Listed Building description for Ruthin Castle — official architectural assessment and heritage classification.
- Kenyon, J. R.: Medieval Fortifications (1990) — technical and historical survey of Welsh and English medieval castle construction.
- Williams, G.: Owain Glyndŵr (1993) — concise biography of the Welsh leader, with context for the military and political situation in North Wales at the time of the rebellion.
