Dolwyddelan Castle

In the community of Dolwyddelan. In the historic county of Caernarfonshire (Modern authority of Conwy, preserved county of Gwynedd).

A square stone keep, dating from C13, remains of this castle built by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth ('the Great'). The site was remodelled by King Edward I. Originally constructed 1210-1240. Additions made late C13 and again late C15. Major restoration work carried out C19, the castle having fallen into disrepair by C18. Constructed of locally sourced gritstone and slatestone rubble. Rectangular storied keep with ruined W tower. Fragments of curtain wall remain.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law. This site is a Listed but grading unknown listed building protected by law*.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SH72195233

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

National Monuments Record number; 95299 County Sites and Monuments Record number; 3725

• Web site links
  • http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=6&PlaceID=68
    http://www.castlewales.com/dolw.html
    http://www.rcahmw.org.uk/uplands-10years/94cs0915.html
    http://www.ecastles.co.uk/dolwyddelan.html
• Books
  • Gravett, Christopher, 2007, The Castles of Edward I in Wales 1277-1307 (Osprey Fortress series 64)
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p35-6
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p78
    Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p42-3
    Davis, Paul R., 1988, Castles of the Welsh Princes (Swansea)
    Taylor, A.J., 1986, The Welsh Castles of Edward I (Hambledon Press) p44-5
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p34
    Avent, Richard, 1983, Castles of the Princes of Gwynedd (Cardiff)
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p349-50
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works, vol1: the Middle Ages (London) p336-7
    RCAHMW, 1956, A survey and inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Caernarvonshire Vol1: East (HMSO) p80-2
    Neaverson, E., 1947, Mediaeval Castles in North Wales: A study of Sites, Water Supply, and Building Stones (London) p31-3
    Lowe, W.Bezant, 1927, The Heart of North Wales (Llanfairfechan)Vol2 p200-5
    Oman, Charles W.C., 1926, Castles (1978 edn Beetham House: New York) p220-1
    Morris, J.E., 1901, The Weslh Wars of Edward I (Oxford) p190
    Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47821#s18
    Grose, Francis, 1787, The Antiquities of England and Wales (London) Vol7 p29-30
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 p375
• Journal Articles
  • Taylor, Arnold J., 1976, 'Dolwyddelan Castle' Archaeological Journal Vol132 p260-1
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    Radford, 1933-5, Llandudno Field Club Vol18 p27
    Barnwell, E.L., 1883, 'Dolwyddelan Castle' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol38 p49-56
• Guidebooks
  • Avent, Richard, 2004, DOLWYDDELAN CASTLE, DOLBADARN CASTLE, CASTELL Y BERE (CADW)
    Avent, Richard, 1988, DOLWYDDELAN CASTLE (CADW)
    Radford, C.A.Ralegh, 1972, DOLWYDDELAN CASTLE (HMSO)
    Radford, 1934, DOLWYDDELAN CASTLE (HMSO)
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents. This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Calendar of Welsh Rolls, 1277-1272 in Calendar of various Chancery Rolls p325