Edward I’s Unfinished Castle

Construction on Beaumaris Castle began in 1295 on the orders of Edward I (often stylised as Edward Longshanks) in the town of Biwmares (English: Beaumaris) on Ynys Môn in Cymru. While the castle today stands as a testament to high medieval military architecture, its history is entwined with Edward I’s strategy to exert control over Cymru – it is, after all, one of Edward’s “Ring of Iron” castles.

Parts of the castle are believed to contain stone from Castell Aberffraw – the stronghold of the Aberffraw dynasty of the mighty Kingdom of Gwynedd. This is not one hundred percent certain, however.

Beaumaris Castle – Part of the Iron Ring

Beaumaris Castle was one of the “Iron Ring” of castles built by Edward I as part of his campaign to subjugate the Welsh. The architect, James of St. George, designed it with military precision, featuring concentric rings of defenses, multiple gates, and a strategically planned layout to withstand siege warfare. Yet, largely in part because of Edward’s ongoing wars with Scotland and his death in 1307, the castle was never completed and remains uncompleted to this day.

Edward I’s motive behind constructing Beaumaris Castle and others in the Iron Ring was primarily political and strategic. Having conquered Gwynedd and Cymru, he sought to consolidate his power and suppress Welsh uprisings. The castle served as a symbol of English dominance and a strategic stronghold to quell any resistance.

Yet, it didn’t fully resist the forces of Owain Glyndŵr as the castle would be captured little under a century following the death of Edward. Though Glyndŵr would not hold the castle for long, the capture served as evidence that the Norman-English Kings could be successfully challenged.

It would also play a minor part in the English Civil War between 1642 and 1651, though its purpose was as a strategic point for royalist forces. Following the Civil War, it was one of the few castles not to be slighted by the victorious Cromwell and the Parliamentarians, as they saw it as a potential stronghold to fight off any Scottish invasion. It would be stripped of its resources once Charles II came to the throne in 1660, however.

Beaumaris Castle stands today as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, admired for its architectural brilliance. However, its origins are deeply rooted in a dark chapter of Welsh history, reflecting the lengths to which powerful rulers went to assert control over regions and peoples they sought to conquer.

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Niklas George

Niklas is the founder, owner, manager, editor, writer, video creator, voice over artist, and so forth, of Welsh Histories. He is passionate about the preservation of Welsh culture; the rejuvenation of the Welsh language and the promotion of Welsh history. Niklas currently resides in Pune, Maharashtra, with his beloved wife.