History Tenby Castle

a victorian postcard showing remains of tenby castle, seen st catherine s island.

the castle, sited on rocky promontory, founded normans during invasion of west wales in 12th century. stone tower built on headland s highest point protected curtain wall. walls had gateway , several small towers on landward side. lesser sea wall surrounded remainder of site , beach area west.

in 1153, castle captured , destroyed maredudd ap gruffydd , rhys ap gruffydd, future ruler of south-western petty kingdom of deheubarth in mid wales. castle besieged again welsh in 1187. although llywelyn ap gruffudd sacked town during campaign retake south wales in 1260, castle not captured. in late 13th century, castle , town had become part of feudal lands of william de valence, 1st earl of pembroke.

the french knight, had been given peerage military services henry iii in second barons war, instigated building of stone walls around town. however, diminished defensive importance of tenby castle. end of 13th century, walls enclosing tenby s old town completed. in 1328, d-shaped barbican built defend town s main gate. additional d-shaped towers added northern , southern walls. tenby castle largely abandoned , in disrepair 1400s.

in 1457, jasper tudor agreed split costs town s merchants refurbish , improve tenby s outer defences. dry ditch along outside town walls widened 30 feet (9.1 m). furthermore, walls heightened inclusion of second tier of higher arrow slits behind new parapet walk. additional turret towers added ends of walls abutted cliff edges. in mid 16th century, large d-shaped tower ( 5 arches ) built following fears second spanish armada.

in 1648 during second english civil war, unit of royalists under command of rice powell held refortified tenby 10 weeks until starved surrendering besieging parliamentarians.