Pembroke Castle/ Castell Penfro

South Wales

29 Oct

Quick Info

Region: Pembrokshire
Built: 1093 by Roger of Montgomery
In the Care of: Trust
Free Parking: Paid parking
Wheelchair Accessible: See Accessibility Section Below
Dogs Allowed: Yes
Admission: Paid Admission
Postcode: SA71 4LA

Opening Times

10am - 4pm

Image courtesy of Pamela Beane on Unsplash

“Much of the castle and stone work remains, and something that is definitely worth a look is the Great Keep.”

— Castle Crawl Cymru

History

This castle was built in 1093 by Roger of Montgomery and it is one of the few castles that was never captured by the Welsh. William Marshal rebuilt it in stone in 1189 and for a long time it was a strategic position from which the Normans would lead their campaigns into Ireland.

In 1204 the castle was under construction again but this time by William Marshal. The Great Keep that he built stands at 80ft high and would have originally contained five stories! It is unique in the UK for its domed roof stone roof and sheer size! It clearly had European influence. Sadly the floors are no longer there, but it does mean you have a spectacular view when you walk inside and can stare right up to the roof! If you’re feeling brave you can even walk to the top!

This castle is most famous for being the birth place of Henry VII on the 28th of January 1457. There is a tower at Pembroke castle thusly named Henry VII tower. An interesting fact about Henry VII is that his mother Margaret Beaufort was 12- 14 years of age at the time of his birth and gave Henry the name: Harri Tudur.

What Can You See?

Much of the castle and stone work remains, and something that is definitely worth a look is the Great Keep. Not only is it impressive to see the sheer size of the building, but it is also interesting to see the influence of European architecture being used in Britain. This keep would have been built to withstand an attack. Wooden stairs that led to the forst floor would have been burned to keep everyone inside and inaccessible. The ground floor would have been for storage, the second, third & forth would have been living quarters and the very top would have been for the soldiers to have quick and easy access to the roof in the event of an attack.

The largest map of Wales in the world is on display at Pembroke Castle… you can stand on it! A wonderfully interactive way to visualise the placement of Pembroke castle against other important castles and religious landmarks in the country.

If there’s anywhere at Pembroke Castle that you don’t want to be in the dark, it’s the Dungeon Tower. Situated in the inner ward of the castle it is one of the few remaining authentic medieval gaols. An oublier that after having seen, you may well prefer to forget.

Wogan Cavern is a natural cave situated underneath the castle. It is currently undergoing archaeological research, but evidence shows that the cave has been inhabited by humans for the last 11,000 years! In the thirteenth century a spiral staircase was built from the castle down to the cave and a wall was built along the mouth of the cave.

Accessibility

We recommend reading the Accessibility section of the Pembroke Castle Website. Contact info@pembrokecastle.co.uk if you need any more information or help.