Nevern Castle - Ruin - Pembrokeshire, Wales.
N 52° 01.780 W 004° 47.865
30U E 376669 N 5765863
A typical Norman/Welsh castle. One of the oldest stone Castles in Wales nearly a thousand years old. The preserved site is almost hidden & mostly buried. The Motte & Bailey, Castle of Nevern, is located in Pembrokeshire, South Wales.
Waymark Code: WMT0QR
Location: South Wales, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 09/05/2016
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Nevern Castle was once home to Norman Lords & Welsh Princes in the 12th & 13th century. Due to its highly desirable defensive location, above a steep gorge on a tributary of the river Nyfer & is defended on its other sides by steep rock banks. The Castle changed hands several times, & served as the administrative centre for the region which played a key role in the development of Welsh nationhood.
"Nevern Community Council bought this site in 1980 for the benefit of the local community and visitors. Together with Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority they have worked hard to look after the site and open it up for all to enjoy." Text Source: (
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"Nevern Castle was raised by Robert FitzMartin, Lord Cemmaes around 1108 as part of the Norman conquest of Pembrokeshire. His castle was an earth and timber motte-and-bailey fortification intended to be the administrative centre. Nevern itself had previously been an important settlement, possibly occupied as early as the fifth century AD, known as Nanhyfer. At least one native Welsh ruler, Cuhelyn, held court on the site and it is likely FitzMartin choose to build here to make a clear statement about regime change. His castle was dominated by a substantial motte, topped with a timber tower, and surrounded by a double moat system. It was a naturally strong position occupying a spur of land formed by the gorge of the Gamman, a small stream.
Norman control of the area faltered in 1136 when the Welsh re-captured northern Pembrokeshire following their victory at the Battle of Crug Mawr (1136) near Cardigan. Nevern Castle remained in Welsh hands and passed to Rhys ap Grufford, Lord Rhys in 1156. He forged an agreement with Henry II confirming his entitlement to the lands of Deheubarth but was required to hand over his Pembrokeshire estates. By this time Robert FitzMartin was dead but his son, William, married Angharad - daughter of Lord Rhys - and Nevern Castle was seemingly restored to him at this time. It was William who substantially rebuilt the castle in stone. The lack of readily available limestone meant the work was completed with slate bonded together with clay – a common building method in southern Wales during this period.
In 1191 Lord Rhys exploited the absence of William FitzMartin, who was fighting in the Third Crusade, and seized Nevern Castle from his son-in-law. The reasons for this action are unclear but it certainly caused family difficulties as in 1194 Lord Rhys found himself imprisoned in Nevern Castle by his own sons, Grufydd and Maelgwn. Although later released by another son, Hywel Sais, the following year the same individual destroyed Nevern Castle to prevent it falling into the hands of the Anglo-Normans. It was never rebuilt with nearby Newport Castle, also owned by the FitzMartins, becoming the regional stronghold." Text Source: (
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