Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Prince of Wales), who had already united most of the country under his control. Edward
I's subsequent campaign against the Welsh princes put an end to Llywelyn's ambitions,
and Caerphilly's short-lived spell on the front line came to an end. The leaning tower at
the southeast corner is a result of subsidence rather than battle.
In the 13th century Caerphilly was state-of-the-art, being one of the earliest castles to
use lakes, bridges and a series of concentric fortifications for defence. To reach the inner
court you had to overcome no fewer than three drawbridges, six portcullises and five sets
of double gates. In the early 14th century it was remodelled as a grand residence and the
magnificent great hall was adapted for entertaining, but from the mid-14th century onward
the castle began to fall into ruin.
Much of what you see today is the result of restoration by the castle-loving Bute family.
The third Marquess of Bute purchased and demolished houses built up against the walls,
and in 1870 the great hall was given a magnificent wooden ceiling (the Gothic windows
were added in 1968 and the hall is now used to host special events). The fourth marquess
instituted a major restoration from 1928 to 1939, giving jobs to many Great Depres-
sion-affected locals in the process. Work continued after 1950, when the fifth marquess
gifted the castle to the state. In 1958 the dams were reflooded, creating its current fairy-
tale appearance.
You can enter through the outside gate and into the first tower before reaching the ticket
office. Upstairs, there are detailed displays about the castle's history. A cartoonish film
projected onto the walls of one of the inner towers tells a trunctated version of the same
story.
On the south dam platform you can see reconstructions of medieval siege weapons;
they are working models and lob stone projectiles into the lake during battle re-enact-
ments. Fans of toilet humour should seek out the communal latrine in a small tower
nearby.
Information
Caerphilly Tourist Office
( 029-2088 0011;
www.visitcaerphilly.com
; The Twyn; 10am-5.30pm)
Not only
is this friendly office a good place to stock up on information, it's also the only place in
town selling Caerphilly cheese - along with Penderyn spirits and locally made chocolates.
There's a small cafe attached.
Getting There & Away
