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Said to be the earliest Norman stone castle in Britain to survive, this impressive castle is larger than you will expect with a great deal to explore and photograph, sitting high on a cliff over the River Wye.
Chepstow Castles' front entrance is not large, and hides a far larger castle behind Click on any smaller image to see a larger version, or see the gallery that has many more photos. Chepstow Castle known as Striguil Castle until around 1400, was started soon after the Normans arrived as a vital part of the new defences of England, protecting Gloucestershire and Gloucester from attack from the west, it was also the southern of a line of castles that ran up what is now the English/Welsh border in the Welsh Marches. Today some of these castles are in England and some in Wales. Some think it was precautionary as the Normans were on good terms with the Kings of Gwent who had previously fought with King Harold. Another theory is that this was more a marking of and control of a border. A further theory is that it was a display of grandeur by the Normans and a meeting place where the leaders from the various small kingdoms that we now think of as Wales could meet up with the English King and his representatives. The concept of fielty by one leader to a greater one, meant that this was probably not a border as we think of it today but divisions between those lands run by the Kings appointees, and the areas run by existing leaders that accepted the King as their overall ruler. In this concept the strong force of the king was also a form of protection to these, as forces could come to their aid if others were to try to take over their lands. As far as what is now Cardiff and Glamorgan were parts of England, Wales was more what we think of now as mid and north Wales starting some point north of Brecon. Some of the stone for the castle came from the Roman remains at Caerwent in what is now South Wales, although most was mined locally. The castle was one of the first structures to be made of stone, most before and many at the time being constructed of wood.
After 1542 the castle became more of a great house. The castle saw action again during the English Civil War, when it was in the front line between Royalist Monmouthshire and Parliamentarian Gloucestershire. It was held by the Royalists and besieged in both 1645 and in 1648, eventually falling to the Parliamentarian forces on 25 May 1648. After the war, the castle was garrisoned and maintained as an artillery fort and barracks. It was also used as a political prison. Its occupants included Bishop Jeremy Taylor, and - after the Restoration of the monarchy - Henry Marten, one of the Commissioners who signed the death warrant of Charles I, who was imprisoned here before his own death in 1680. In 1682, the castle came into the ownership of the Duke of Beaufort. The garrison was disbanded in 1685, and the buildings were partly dismantled, leased to tenants and left to decay. Various parts of the castle were used as a farmyard and a glass factory. By the late 18th century, its ruins became, with other sites in the Wye valley, a "Picturesque" feature on the "Wye tour", pleasure boat trips down the river from Ross-on-Wye via Monmouth. The first guide book to the castle and town was written by Charles Heath and published in 1793. Since that time it has been a place for tourists to visit. The end farthest from the main gate View of part of the inside of
the castle from the top of large tower at the front, I have visited many of the castles on the English welsh border and Chepstow is larger and more impressive than the others, and may have well been a meeting place for Kings in the region, and on the border of the kingdom at the time. You experience a series of developments as you climb the hill, and are able to climb the towers, and on to some of the curtain wall walkways and other high points as well as seeing a number of rooms, and looking out and down into the river. Several people have said that Chepstow and Harlech are the two most memorable castles they have visited in Wales. Although perhaps not as complete as some, it is larger, and you will find several hours are used in exploring this castle fully. There is a bridge over the river and you can photograph the castle on its cliff from the other side of the river, although from within the castle there are views that show large sections of the castle, cliff and river. For the photographer there are also many creative opportunities, so allow enough time to appreciate these and allow some experimentation. Nearby there are remains of the town wall, including a gateway.
a gallery is available for this castle, which links back to this page.
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