Usk Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Brynbuga; Brunebegy; Burenbegie; Huske; Uske; Oscae

In the community of Usk. In the historic county of Monmouthshire (Modern authority of Monmouthshire, preserved county of Gwent).

Possibly dating from late C11 (although this has been questioned by Spurgeon and Phillips who suggest new built masonry castle of mid C12), first mentioned in 1138 when captured. Lies on a hill in northernmost sector of Roman fort. The bailey had a masonry wall with round towers added c1212-19 by William Marshall. Gilbert IV de Clare is said to have added the NE tower in the 1260's. When Gilbert V de Clare was killed at Bannockburn in 1314, Usk passed to Elizabeth de Burgh who erected the hall block, chapel and solar on the northeast side. The castle later passed to the Mortimers, who walled in the outer bailey on the south with one round SW tower and a rectangular gatehouse. Owain Glyndwr burnt the town in 1402 and 1405, but the castle may have held out. Castle said to be 'worth nothing' in 1550. Now generally ruinous. The gatehouse has been incorporated into a later house and a barn is incorporated in part of the curtain wall. The principal enclosure, with a largely C13 towered encience, is subrectangular, c.80m by 54m, whilst with all possible ramifications the castle may have occupied an area c.210m by 150m, integrated with the town defences.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law. This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO37670109

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's National Monument Record (Coflein) number is 94856
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 02021g 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Web site links
  • http://uskcastle.com/
    http://www.castlewales.com/usk.html
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_wales/171/uskcastle.htm
    http://www.ecastles.co.uk/usk.html
• Books
  • Knight, J. K. and Johnson, A. (eds), 2008, Usk Castle, Priory and Town (Logaston Press) [major text] esp. p55-78
    Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p186-9
    Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (University of Wales) [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?phillips_phd_2005] p347-8
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p142
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p135
    Whittle, E., 1992, A Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales, Glamorgan and Gwent. (London: Cadw HMSO) p106
    Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p34-5
    Knight, J.K., 1987, 'The Road to Harlech' in Kenyon, J.R., and R., Avent, (eds.), Castles in Wales and the Marches, Essays in honour of D.J. Cathcart King. (Cardiff: University of Wales Press) p76-8
    Spurgeon, C.J., 1987, 'Mottes and Castle Ringworks in Wales' in Kenyon, J.R., and R., Avent, (eds.), Castles in Wales and the Marches, Essays in honour of D.J. Cathcart King. (Cardiff: University of Wales Press) p26
    Mein, A.G., 1986, Norman Usk; the birth of a town (privately published)
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus)
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p382
    Knight, J.K.., 1977, 'Usk Castle and its Affinities' in Apted et al, Ancient Monuments and their Interpretation: Essays Presented to Taylor, A.J. (Phillimore) p139-54
    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 Vol2: the Middle Ages (London: HMSO) p650-1
    Oman, Charles W.C., 1926, Castles (1978 edn Beetham House: New York) p157-8
    Bradney, J.A., 1904-33, History of Monmouthshire Vol3 p10-11 [slight]
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol2 p92 http://www.archive.org/stream/castlesofengland02mack#page/92/mode/1up
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p376
    Coxe, W., 1801, Historical Tour in Monmouthshire (London) Vol1 p127-32 plan facing p49
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol1 p193
    Grose, F., 1756, Antiquities of England and Wales Vol8 p116
• Journal Articles
  • Guy, Neil et al, 2008/9, 'Usk Castle' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol22 p62-72 [photo and plan only]
    Priestly, S.G. and Turner, R.C., 2003, 'Three castles of the Clare family in Monmouthshire during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries' Archaeological Cambrensis Vol152 p9-52
    Ward, J.C., 'Elizabeth de Burgh and Usk Castle' Monmouthshire Antiquary Vol18 p13-22
    2001, 'Usk Castle' Monmouth Archaeology
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol112 p77-124
    Brown, R, Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 1154–1216' English Historical Review Vol74 p249-280 [Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p90-121] http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0013-8266%28195904%2974%3A291%3C249%3AALOC1%3E2.0.CO%3B2-P
    Taylor, A.J., 1947, 'Usk Castle and the Pipe Roll of 1185 with a note on an expenses account of 1289' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol99 p249-55
    Lloyd and O'Neil, 1936, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol91 p375-8
    Davies, J., 1894, 'The Roman Station of Burrium and Usk Castle' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club p242-4
• Guidebooks
  • Anon, 2004, Usk Castle (Usk: Usk Castle 2001 Ltd)
    O'Neil, n.d., Usk Castle (Usk)
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Pipe Roll 31 Henry II p10
    Giraldus Cambrensis, c.1188, Journey Through Wales [http://www.building-history.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Primary/Gerald2.htm]
    Giraldus Cambrensis, c.1183, Description of Wales [http://www.building-history.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Primary/Gerald.htm]
    Rickard, John, 2002, The Castle Community. The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272-1422 (Boydell Press) [lists sources for 1272-1422] p317-8
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/hertseng.html#mons8]
    Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1906, Leland's Itinerary in Wales (Bell and Sons; London) p44 http://www.archive.org/details/itineraryinwales00lelauoft