Caernarfon Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Caernarvon; Carnarvon

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

Monumental masonry castle, an irregular area, c.150m E-W by 40-46m, is defined by curtain walls studded by 13 polygonal towers and turrets, including two twin-towered gatehouses,; walls and towers feature contrasting bands of stonework, turrets top the towers, and those of the Eagle Tower carried sculptured eagles, one remaining; castle heavily restored in the C19 and C20. The upper ward area is thought to rest upon and incorporate an earlier earthwork castle enclosure/mound. King Edward I intended the castle to be a royal residence and seat of government for north Wales. Begun in 1283 under the direction of Master James of St George, the King's mason-architect, and continuously in Crown possession since. World Heritage Site.

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 SH477626

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 95318
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 3095; 5058 '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://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=6&PlaceID=19
    http://www.castlewales.com/caernarf.html
    http://www.greatcastlesofwales.co.uk/caernarfon.htm
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_wales/115/caernarfoncastle.htm
    http://vrcoll.fa.pitt.edu/medart/image/England/caernarvon/castle/maincaern.html
    http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/C/castle/cae_main.html
    http://www.ecastles.co.uk/caernarfon.html
• Books
  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p59-63
    Gravett, Christopher, 2007, The Castles of Edward I in Wales 1277-1307 (Osprey Fortress series 64)
    Avent, R., 2006, 'The conservation and restoration of Caernarfon Castle 1845-1912' in Meek, M. (ed), The modern traveller to our past: Festschrift in honour of Ann Hamlin (DPK) p344-52
    Nichol, D., 2005, 'Geological provenance of Caernarfon Castle and town walls' in Bassett, M.G., Deisler, V.K. and Nichol, D. (eds), Urban geology in Walls Vol2 (Cardiff: National Museum of Wales) p204-8
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p19-24
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p36-9
    Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p18-25
    Kightly, C., 1991, Caernarfon: A Royal Palace in Wales (CADW)
    Coldstream, N., 1988, ‘The castle builders: Harlech and Caernarfon’, in ‘Architecture’, in B Ford (ed), The Cambridge guide to the arts in Britain. 2. The middle ages, (Cambridge: CUP) p81-7
    Taylor, A.J., 1986, ‘Building at Caernarvon and Beaumaris in 1295-6’, in Taylor, A.J., Studies in castles and castle-building, (London: Hambledon Press) p139-44
    Taylor, A. J., 1986, The Welsh castles of Edward I (London, Hambledon) p77-103
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p32
    Humphries, P. H., 1983, Castles of Edward the First in Wales (London, HMSO)
    Taylor, A.J., 1983, Four Great Castles: Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech, Beaumaris (Newton: Gwasg Gregynog Ltd)
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p328-30
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    RCAHMW, 1964, A survey and inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Caernarvonshire Vol3: West (HMSO) p116-21
    Colvin, H.M., Brown, R.Allen and Taylor, A.J., 1963, The history of the King's Works, vol1: the Middle Ages (London) p369-95
    RCAHMW, 1960, A survey and inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Caernarvonshire Vol2: Central (HMSO) p124-50
    Toy, Sidney, 1953, The Castles of Great Britain (London) p168-71, 244-6
    Neaverson, E., 1947, Mediaeval Castles in North Wales: A study of Sites, Water Supply, and Building Stones (London) p46-8
    Toy, Sidney, 1939, Castles: A short History of Fortifications from 1600 BC to AD 1600 (London) p157-60, 195-8
    Lowe, W.Bezant, 1927, The Heart of North Wales (Llanfairfechan)Vol2 p162-76
    Tipping, 1921, English Homes period 1 (London) Vol1 p83-91
    Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p261
    Evans, Herbert A., 1912, Castles of England and Wales (London) p345-9
    Hamilton Thompson, A., 1912, Military Architecture in England during the Middle Ages (London) p252-62
    Clark, G.T., 1884, Medieval military architecture in England (Wyman and Sons) Vol1 p309-15
    Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol3 (London) p428-33
    Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47810#s1
    Britton, John, 1835, The Architectural Antiquities of Great Britain (London) p137-40
    Grose, Francis, 1787, The Antiquities of England and Wales (London) Vol7 p15-22, 30-1
    Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 p367-9
• Journal Articles
  • Anon, 2008-9, 'Oystermouth Castle' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol22 p165 [news report]
    Fradley, M., 2006, 'Space and Structure at Caernarfon Castle' Medieval Archaeology Vol50 p165-78 [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?medarch]
    Avent, R., 2003, 'Uncovering repairs at Caernarfon' Heritage in Wales Vol26 p11-3
    Mathieu, J.R., 1999, 'New Methods on Old Castles' Medieval Archaeology Vol43 p115-42 [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?medarch]
    Taylor, A.J., 1984, ‘Caernarfon Castle and town walls’, 131st annual meeting, Anglesey, 1984, CAA p33-4
    Thompson, M.W., 1979, 'Caernarfon Castle' 126th Annual Meeting, Lleyn and Snowdonia, 1979, CAA p27-9
    Taylor, Arnold J., 1976, 'Caernarvon Castle and town walls (SH 478627)' Archaeological Journal Vol132 p287-9
    Evans, 1970, Medieval Archaeology Vol14 p179 [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?medarch]
    Hauge, 1969, Country Life Vol145 p1650-2
    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
    Taylor, A.J., 1952-4, Bulletin of the Board of Celtic Studies Vol15 p61-6
    Taylor, A.J., 1952, ‘The date of Caernarvon Castle’ Antiquity Vol26 no101 p25-34 [reprinted in Taylor, A.J., 1986, Studies in castles and castle-building, (London: Hambledon Press) p129-38]
    Taylor, A.J., 1950, History Vol35 p256-61
    Edwards, J. Goronwy, 1944, 'Edward I's Castle-Building in Wales' Proceedings of the British Academy Vol32 esp p43-52, 71
    Taylor, A.J., 1937, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol92 p356-8
    Knoop, D., and Jones, G.P., 1932, 'Castle-building at Beaumaris and Caernarvon in the early 14th Century. A further study in operative masonry' Ars Quatuor Coronatorum Vol45 p4 - 47
    Peers, 1915-6, Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion p28-74 [Detailed description]
    Peers, 1911, Country Life Vol30 p56-62
    Roberts, 1910-11, Llandudno Field Club Vol5 p3-21 [unimportant]
    Turner, 1895, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol50 p212-22 [rather wild]
    Turner, 1874, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol29 p74-6
    Hartshorne, C.H., 1855, 'Caernarvon Castle' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol10 p242-6
    Hartshorne, C.H., 1850, 'Caernarvon Castle' Archaeological Journal Vol7 p237-65
• Guidebooks
  • Taylor, A. J., 2001 (5edn), Caernarfon Castle including Caernarfon town walls (CADW)
    Taylor, A.J., edited by M R Apted, 1993 (3edn), Caernarfon Castle and Town Walls (CADW)
    Taylor, A.J., edited by M R Apted, 1989 (Revised edn, reprinted with revisions), Caernarfon Castle and Town Walls (CADW)
    Taylor, A.J., edited by M R Apted, 1986 (Revised edn), Caernarfon Castle (CADW)
    Taylor, A. J., 1964 (Reprint of 1953 edn with amendments), Caernarvon Castle and Town Walls (London, HMSO)
    Taylor, A. J., 1953, Caernarvon Castle and Town Walls (London, HMSO)
    Peers, 1933, Caernarvon Castle (London, HMSO)
    Pughe, n.d., Illustrated History of Caernarvon Castle (Caernarvon) [slight]
• Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.)
  • Rickard, John, 2002, The Castle Community. The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272-1422 (Boydell Press) [lists sources for 1272-1422] p109-10
    Myers, A.R. (ed), 1969, English Historical Documents Vol4 1327-1485 p195-6 [assualt of 1404]
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • William Camden, 1607, Britannia [http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/cambrit/glameng.html#carn4]