| Places to visit in South and West Wales:
Pembroke Castle Trust |
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| Description |
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Looming magnificently above the main street of the town, Pembroke Castle is one of Britains most impressive medieval monuments. It was founded in the 11th century by the Montgomerys, who established the first timber castle on a rocky crag above the River Cleddau.
The stone building which stands today is one of the foremost examples of Norman architecture in the country. It was commenced in the 12th century by Earl William Marshal, and his famous round Keep is nearly 80 feet tall with walls 19 feet thick. In 1454 the mighty fortress was held by Earl Jasper Tudor, and the castle is renowned as the birthplace of Jaspers nephew, Henry Tudor, who was to become Henry VII after defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth - thus founding the Tudor dynasty. During the Civil War the castle was held by both the Parliamentarians and the Royalists, and Cromwell travelled there to begin the siege that led to it finally falling under his control. Restoration work in the late 19th century and again in the 1930s has preserved many of the features of the castle that might otherwise have fallen into ruin. The walls, the towers, the turrets, the tunnels and the battlements resound with the history of the centuries, and are an irresistible attraction for lovers of history and for children.
Younger visitors are also fascinated by the brass rubbing gallery just outside the castle walls, where they can learn how to use gold or silver waxes to make pictures of knights of old. On Sundays during the summer months living history groups fill the Outer Ward and create a truly medieval atmosphere. The castle is owned and managed by the Pembroke Castle Trust, a private trust that depends solely on income from visitors. The range of facilities inside the castle grounds includes lavatories, a snack bar (open in the summer) and a picnic area. Guided tours are available daily except Saturdays during the summer season and at other times by arrangement. Half a mile from the castle, on the opposite bank of the river, is Monkton Priory, which together with the castle is a visible representation of the twin symbols of medieval authority, the aristocracy and the Church.
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