Castles in Wales

The remains of Prestatyn Castle represent a short-lived Norman gamble on the Welsh frontier. Founded by Robert de Banastre around 1157, this "frontier startup" utilised sophisticated concrete foundations to anchor its authority. However, in 1167, a Welsh coalition destroyed the fortress, ending a decade of Norman ambition and forcing a total colonial evacuation.

North Wales has so many castles because it was fiercely contested ground. Its mountains and coastline demanded fortification, while Edward I’s conquest produced monumental strongholds such as Caernarfon and Conwy. These castles secured power, symbolised authority, and transformed the region’s landscape, economy and identity for centuries.