Neath Castle

Castle in Neath, Wales

Neath Castle

Neath Castle (Welsh: Castell Nedd) is a Norman castle located in the town centre of Neath, Wales. Its construction was begun by Robert, Earl of Gloucester, the nominal Lord of Glamorgan, at a date estimated between 1114 and 1130.[1][2] It is also referred to as "Granville's Castle", after Richard I de Grenville (or Granville or Glanville; died post 1142), Lord of Neath, who has also been credited with its construction.[3] The town of Neath takes its Welsh name, "Castell-nedd", from the castle.[4]

## History

[edit]

The first castle in Neath was located west of the river[1] near the Roman fort of Nidum, and was a timber fortification in a motte and bailey structure.[5] When Richard de Grenville founded Neath Abbey close by, he abandoned this original castle, and it may have been used by the monks as a source of building material.[6]

A second castle on the opposite bank of the river, in what is now the centre of the town, is first documented in 1183; shortly afterwards, William de Cogan, son of Miles de Cogan, was appointed constable.[7] This second castle was built by Gilbert de Clare, 5th Earl of Gloucester.[8] During the 13th century, being a Norman stronghold, it was subject to attack by the Welsh, notably by Llywelyn the Great, who captured it in 1231 with help from a local Welsh lord, Morgan Gam.[1][5][9] Following this, it was substantially rebuilt by Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester, Gilbert's son.[10]

It was taken again, and this time destroyed, by Humphrey de Bohun, 4th Earl of Hereford, in 1321, during the rebellion against King Edward II of England.[11] Its owner, Hugh Despenser the Younger (who had gained the lordship through his marriage to the heiress Eleanor de Clare), rebuilt it, possibly with the addition of a gatehouse.[10] In 1376, one Roger Kyngot was the constable,[12] and the castle was rebuilt in stone in 1377; that is probably when the great gatehouse was built, which is the main surviving feature.[13] The castle was in use until the 17th century, and has been a recreational area for the town since the 18th century.[14] The post of "Constable of Neath Castle", a medieval legacy, was held by Sir Humphrey Mackworth from 1703.[15] The title was eventually absorbed into that of Mayor of Neath. What remains of the castle is designated a Grade II* listed building.[16]

## See also

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* List of castles in Wales
* Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
* List of Scheduled Monuments in Neath Port Talbot

## References

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1. ^ a b c "In The Footsteps Of Alfred Russel Wallace" (PDF). dramaticheart.wales. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
2. ^ "Neath Castle". Neath Town Council. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
3. ^ Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales. An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan: Volume III: Medieval secular monuments. The early castles - from the Norman Conquest to 1217: Volume III: Medieval secular monuments. The early castles - from the Norman Conquest to 1217. London: HMSO. p. 156\. ISBN 0113000359.
4. ^ "The Neath Constituency". Christina Rees, MP for Neath. Neath Constituency Office. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
5. ^ a b "List of Castles in Wales". Historic UK. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
6. ^ Neath Castle from The Cistercian Way
7. ^ Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales (2000). An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan: Volume III - Part 1b: Medieval Secular Monuments the Later Castles from 1217 to the present. ISBN 9781871184228.
8. ^ "The Lordship of Neath". Cymdeithas Hanes Resolfen History Society. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
9. ^ "Morgan Gam". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
10. ^ a b Pettifer, Adrian. Welsh Castles: A Guide by Counties. Boydell & Brewer. p. 100. ISBN 9780851157788.
11. ^ "Neath Castle". The Gatehouse Gazetteer. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
12. ^ "Ministers' Accounts: Introduction". British History Online. Cardiff Records Committee. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
13. ^ "Neath Castle". Jeffrey L. Thomas. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
14. ^ coflein NPRN: 94528. GGAT PRN: 00624w. Cadw SAM: GM039: Neath Castle
15. ^ "Mackworth, Sir Humphrey". History of Parliament. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
16. ^ "Neath Castle, Castle Street, Neath". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 12 July 2015.

## Gallery

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* Neath Castle, 1807, by artist Edward Dayes, 1763–1804, and engraver J. Storer, 1771-1837

* The Gnoll and Castle, Neath, 1790-1810 by Hendrik Frans de Cort

* Neath Castle ca 1790, by Page

* Neath Castle ca 1790

* Neath Castle, 1811, by John George Wood (1768-1838)

* A view of Neath with a castle in the foreground, 1836 by Peter DeWint (1784-1849)

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51°39′54″N 3°48′13″W﻿ / ﻿51.6651°N 3.8037°W﻿ / 51.6651; -3.8037
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