Rhuddlan Castle
“Rhuddlan doesn’t hide what it is. Brutal, sharp-edged, and deliberate. There’s nothing romantic about the way it drags the River Clwyd into line, forced to bow and twist so the king’s ships could sail right up to the walls. This wasn’t built to impress. It was built to dominate.”
The town never had a chance. They walled it in and laid it out straight, English-style. Market square at the centre. Welsh families pushed out to the edges or gone entirely. Rhuddlan Castle didn’t just arrive with Edward I. It dragged a new order behind it, brick by brick.
The Castle’s Story
Edward I made castles and he made systems. Rhuddlan was one of the first of these combinations, and it set the tone. He arrived in 1277, already deep into his campaign to crush Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. The old Norman motte-and-bailey at Twthill was still standing nearby, but Edward wanted something more permanent. Something that would outlast the resistance.
So they started digging. Not just foundations, but the river itself. The Clwyd was forced into a new course, straightened and deepened so English ships could sail right up to the walls. Supplies by water meant the castle could hold out even if the land was hostile. Which it was.
The design came from James of St George, Edward’s master mason from Savoy. Rhuddlan was his first concentric fortress in Wales. A diamond-shaped inner ward, flanked by twin-towered gatehouses, wrapped in a curtain wall and dry moat. It was a fortress built to project power, not just defend it.
Construction began in 1277 and continued until 1282. The cost was £9,613, two shillings and eight pence. Astronomical for the time. But Edward was building a castle and a new order.
In 1284, he issued the Statute of Rhuddlan from within its walls. It imposed English law on Wales, creating new counties and appointing English officials. It was the legal death of Welsh independence, signed and sealed in stone.
Key Moments
The walls didn’t fall easily. In 1294, when Madog ap Llywelyn led a rising against English rule, Rhuddlan was surrounded. Welsh forces harried the town and closed in on the castle. But they couldn’t breach it. Inside, the garrison held firm. Cold and cut off. Trapped behind their own strength. They lit fires in the tower hearths and listened to shouts from beyond the moat. The siege dragged on. The castle survived. The rebellion didn’t.
A century later, the enemy was Welsh again, but this time, the name was Owain Glyndŵr. His forces swept across the north in 1400. They burned what they could not keep. The castle withstood the blow, but the town didn’t. English settlers were dragged from their homes, the wooden walls scorched. Rhuddlan had been designed to impose order. It couldn’t stop fury.
Then came the Civil War. Rhuddlan backed the king. The Parliamentarian siege in 1646 was patient and deliberate. No grand assault. Just hunger and slow despair. By the time the surrender came, the Royalist cause was already broken. In 1648, Cromwell’s men returned and slighted the place. They tore out staircases, collapsed towers, and left the inner ward roofless. Not ruins through neglect. Ruins by design.
This is a fortress that didn’t just survive attacks. It absorbed them. You can see it in the broken arches and half-crumbled gatehouses. Nothing here is untouched by conflict.
Legends and Lore
Rhuddlan Castle carries whispers of the supernatural, tales passed down through generations that blur the lines between fact and folklore.
Erilda, the beautiful daughter of the King of North Wales. Betrothed to Morvern, Prince of South Wales, their union was meant to bring peace between the two realms. However, fate had other plans. While wandering alone, Erilda became lost and was rescued by a mysterious knight clad in black armor with a blood-red plume. This enigmatic figure returned her safely to the castle, earning the king's gratitude. But the knight was no ordinary man; he was a demon in disguise, intent on preventing the alliance. Under his spell, Erilda agreed to elope with him. As they fled, the demon revealed his true form and, in a tragic turn, killed Erilda before disappearing into the River Clwyd with her lifeless body. To this day, locals speak of ghostly screams and demonic laughter echoing through the castle ruins at night .
Another version of the legend tells of Elrida, a princess who, while singing on the castle walls, encountered a melancholic knight named Wertwrold. Despite learning of her arranged marriage to Prince Morven, Elrida fell for Wertwrold. On the eve of her wedding, she chose to flee with him. Pursued by her father's soldiers, Elrida, in a desperate act, accidentally killed her father. Wertwrold then revealed his true identity as a water demon and took Elrida's life. Her spirit is said to haunt the castle, eternally pursued by the demon knight .
These tales, whether rooted in truth or born from imagination, add a layer of mystique to Rhuddlan Castle, making it a place where history and legend intertwine.
Architecture & Features
From the moment Edward I’s masons laid the first stones in 1277, this fortress was designed to dominate both the landscape and the people within it. Its most striking feature is the diamond-shaped inner ward, a departure from the traditional square layouts of earlier castles. This design, masterminded by James of St George, positioned twin-towered gatehouses at the east and west corners, while singular towers anchored the north and south points.
The inner ward was encircled by a curtain wall, behind which stood essential structures: the great hall, private chambers, a chapel, and service buildings. Beyond this, a lower outer ward provided additional defense, featuring its own curtain wall reinforced with numerous small half-towers. A deep, dry moat surrounded the entire complex, except on the southwest side, where the River Clwyd offered natural protection.
One of the castle's most notable features is the West Gatehouse, flanked by massive twin towers that once housed the principal apartments. These towers, originally four stories high, were topped with crenellations, providing archers with a vantage point to defend the castle. Another significant structure is Gillot's Tower, situated along the southern corner of the outer ward. This square-plan tower protected the Dock Gate and the adjacent river approach, underscoring the castle's strategic integration with the River Clwyd.
Rhuddlan Castle's architecture reflects a shift in medieval military design, emphasizing both formidable defense and the projection of royal authority. Its innovative layout and integration with the surrounding landscape mark it as a significant development in castle construction during Edward I's reign.
Modern Access / Preservation
Rhuddlan Castle’s ruins preserved to reflect its historical significance. Managed by Cadw, the Welsh Government's historic environment service, the castle has undergone extensive conservation efforts to maintain its structural integrity and historical authenticity.
In recent years, significant restoration work has focused on the castle's river dock area, particularly Gillot's Tower, which once facilitated access from the River Clwyd. Skilled masons have undertaken careful vegetation removal, repointing with lime mortar, and flaunching to prevent water ingress, ensuring the longevity of these structures .
Visitors today can explore the castle's inner ward, ascend modern spiral staircases to the battlements, and appreciate the site's strategic design. The grounds are well-maintained, with accessible pathways and facilities, including a visitor centre, gift shop, and toilets . Cadw's commitment to preserving Rhuddlan Castle allows for an immersive experience into Wales's rich medieval history.
Visiting Today
Rhuddlan Castle remains a commanding presence in Denbighshire, its ruins offering a tangible connection to Wales's medieval past. Managed by Cadw, the site is open to the public and provides a range of facilities to enhance the visitor experience.
The castle operates on a seasonal schedule. From 1st October 2025 to 31st March 2026, it is open daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Admission fees are as follows:
Adults £6.20
Seniors (65+) £5.50
Juniors (5–17) and students £4.30
Family ticket (2 adults and up to 3 children) £19.80
Children under 5 enter free, and Cadw members enjoy complimentary access. Blue Light Card holders and HM Armed Forces & Veterans receive a 10% discount on individual admission, though this is not available online.
A small visitor centre adjacent to the castle provides information and light refreshments. The site includes a gift shop offering guidebooks and souvenirs. Toilets with baby changing facilities are available, and a water refill station is on-site. The castle grounds are generally flat and covered with well-maintained grass, making them accessible for most visitors. However, access to the upper levels involves modern spiral staircases, and some areas may have uneven surfaces.
For more information or specific inquiries, visitors can contact the site at 01745 590777 or email RhuddlanCastle@gov.wales.
References
Cadw – Castell Rhuddlan
Cadw – Castell Rhuddlan Access Information
Cadw – Tours of Rhuddlan
Great Castles – Rhuddlan Castle
Great Castles – Rhuddlan Ghost Story
Castle Wales – Rhuddlan Castle
Medieval Heritage – Rhuddlan Castle
Myths, Legends and Oddities of North East Wales – The Warrior of the Blood Red Plume
Ecclesiastical and Heritage World – Rhuddlan Castle Conservation
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