Kidwelly Castle

#33 & #155-7 Kidwelly Castle
Carmarthenshire, Dyfed, Wales
1106 and 1277-1300 and 1389-1410
This is NOT an official Lego site

At the end of the 11th century, the Normans finally had a foothold in southwest Wales, and Henry I, King of England and son of William the Conqueror, passed the territory of Cydweli to Roger, Bishop of Salisbury, who soon constructed a timber castle on a prominent ridge overlooking the river Gwendraeth (see conjectural painting on the left) beginning about 1106. This wooden palisade was probably extended by Rhys ap Gruffudd (Lord Rhys) during an extended period of Welsh control during the 12th century. Maurice de Londres [of London] held Kidwelly for a time after 1139. The Anglo-Normans again retook Kidwelly soon after Lord Rhys death in 1197, and some stone structures were built.

In 1220 Hawise de Londres, granddaughter of Maurice, inherited Kidwelly, but it was captured by the Welsh in 1231. Twelve years later, Hawise and her new, third husband, Patrick de Chaworth, recaptured Kidwelly. When Patrick's son Payn returned from the Crusades with King Edward I, he began to transform the family property into the magnificent masonry structure we see today. Begun in 1277, Kidwelly became a powerful semi-concentric castle. The stone inner castle was a square courtyard with three round and one kidney bean-shaped corner towers, all on the same footprint, with a Great Hall and solar overlooking the river. Upon Payn's death in 1279, his brother Patrick inherited Kidwelly. When Patrick died in 1283, Kidwelly passed to his daughter Matilda (Maud) who was just 1 year old. King Edward thus granted the castle to William de Valence, lord of Pembroke, but Kidwelly reverted back to Matilda upon his death in 1296. In 1298, at the age of 16, Matilda married Edward's nephew, Henry of Lancaster, age 17. Henry became earl of Lancaster in 1327 and soon bestowed Kidwelly and other Welsh estates on his son, also named Henry. With no male heir, Kidwelly passed on the Henry's daughter Blanche, the wife of John of Gaunt, who became duke of Lancaster (1362-99). John and Blanche's son became the first Lancastrian king of England, Henry IV, in 1399. Kidwelly was in the hands of the crown.

In 1389 construction of the Great Gatehouse and adjoining higher curtain walls began, with completion of the work in 1402. The timing could not have been better, for by 1403 the great Owain Glyn Dwr rebellion was gathering pace, with a major offensive expected in south Wales. Kidwelly was beseiged by Henry Don, a supporter of Owain. The walled town was taken and burnt, but despite a small garrison of seven archers and 14 burgesses from the town (others apparently fled when the seige began), Kidwelly withstood a five month seige. Unrest continued for three more years. During the peaceful period that followed, the gatehouse was modified and roofed in lead, and further halls, stables, kitchens and other buildings were added as needed. Kidwelly was an administrative center for the Duchy of Lancaster. In 1630 Kidwelly passed to the Vaughan family, and was spared any part in the Civil War of the 1640's. Despite some repairs, the castle gradually fell into disrepair until rescued in 1927 by CADW, the Welsh Assembly Government Historic Environment Service.

Photos of the Lego Model of the 1106 Norman Castle Under construction Fall of 2016 I was intrigued the first time I saw Geraint Derbyshire's 1990 impression of Henry I's rendition of Kidwelly about 1106 as a timber fort. The site did not suggest a typical motte and bailey castle, and a well was apparently considered unnecessary due to the navigable River Gwendraeth adjacent - which also allowed for a possible raid by my 22-oar Viking longboat, the crew of which has been itching for a fight for several years. And thank you, Cadw, for your patience, for this project, originally planned instead of the wonderful Rhuddlan video, would never have worked as a video project. Enjoy!

On Oct 11 construction begins with the first 3 days spent laying out the project and working on the river.	By Oct 17 the rising river bank allows an outline of the palisade fort to be built.	Five days later work on the NE end has resulted in a bridge across the wet ditch and a bit of courtyard.	On Oct 26 general progress continues...


...as the ditch extends along the entire north curve of the castle.	On Nov. 1 the courtyard is completed, including the vegetable garden.	While much work remains, the palisade is beginning to look formidable from the river...	...and the Viking long boat is back to check on progress.


This project has needed a huge number of 1x2 & 1x4 "log" bricks, plus log panels, so lots of waiting for parts to arrive...	...but by November 22, landscaping is completed, with a ditch newly dammed by Henry I.	The courtyard features a hall, chapel and kitchen, with more structures to come... Finished castle next! See below.

Photos of the Lego Model #155 Built October - December, 2016

On December 11 the castle is finally finished.	The half-timber gatehouse is to be the last vestige of the timber fort as the castle is converted to stone.	The dry ditch which initially protected the great arc around three sides of Kidwelly has been dammed to create a moat.	From the west the moat can be best appreciated.


Construction of a second barracks for the garrison seems to be the center of attention...	...allowing the returning Viking longboat to slip up the river unnoticed. Olaf leads his squad along the river bank...	...while Harold takes the bulk of the Northmen to storm the main gatehouse.	Will be sentries notice the attackers in time?

Photos of the Lego Model of the 1300 Castle Under construction January, 2017 As noted in the history above, in 1277 Payn de Chaworth, returned from the crusades, undertook major strengthening of Kidwelly Castle in stone. The inner castle was built and the outer wooden curtain was replaced with a stone wall, four towers and a north gatehouse, though the walls were heightened later. This model represents the castle just after the great hall and solar were added, but before the chapel was built.

On December 20 the wooden palisade is removed - everything except the half-timber gatehouse and the church.	Hopefully the new stone castle will fit reasonably well into the landscape.	On December 21 the inner castle is laid out - and we're off for Christmas in Minnesota.	On December 31 work has begun in earnest, with the inner castle beginning to rise...

...and the outer curtain with its towers nicely inserted into the ditch banks.	By January 8 a great deal more building has occurred, with towers nearing their full height...	...and the outer curtain also rising nicely.	You'll find the finished 1277 + castle in the section below!

Photos of the Lego Model #156 Built December, 2016 - January, 2017

A little additional explanation is necessary: The final castle was built in at least 7 major stages.	The decision to keep the half-timber gatehouse for almost 300 years, when the rest of the castle had been...	...converted to stone apparently remains an enigma. Perhaps it was significantly more complex and/or sumptuous than the Derbyshire drawing suggests.	The north gate was moved and thus the remnants of the old bridge footings can can seen if you look closely.


Mural towers in stone were inserted into the ditch face in about the same location as the old wooden towers.	The towers of the inner castle are most impressive, including the mural stairs to the roofs.	I do not know when the ditch was dammed to create a wet moat, so I made it an early feature of the landscape.	And we've arrived back at the main gate...


Here's a closer view of the main entrance to the inner ward.	This view highlights the new stair to the wall walk and the kitchens.	Here is the Great Hall with the Lord's Solar at the left end.	This view shows the mostly decorative corbelling both along the wall walk and small gatehouse.	The steps up to the wall walk of the outer curtain.	Here is a view of the north end of the courtyard, where a stable will eventually reappear. Now on to Kidwelly 1400!

Photos of the Lego Model of the 1400 Castle Under construction January - February, 2017 For this model, built into the same landscape, the 1106 half-timber gatehouse, the little chapel and the slide-out section of slope beneath the SE tower were removed. I then outlined the new stone gatehouse, which I subsequently built, necessitating a new stone bridge next to the old wooden one. Then construction of the chapel tower began. The chapel is very close to the riverbank, suggesting a very rainy spring, with the Gwendraeth quite swollen.

Here is the new stone gatehouse outlined. The entry passage must be moved, and the stone outcrop rebuilt.	Soon the new gatehouse is taking shape. No minifig entries how- ever: the bridges don't match yet!	By February 1, the massive gatehouse is ready for its roof and battlements.	And construction of the new chapel begins. SEE BELOW!

Photos of the Lego Model #157 Built January - February, 2017

Here is my final version of Kidwelly from the south.	After 1422 only a stable, bakehouse and probable courthouse build were added to the castle.	The outer curtain wall is neither as tall nor as decor- ative as the final, but I ran out out of...	...both Lego and patience. And the doorways at both ends of the lengthy structure matched the towers!


The castle as a whole is certainly an impressive fortress. Note the tree line continues to recede.	The north entrance is busy this day as dozens of empty barrels are loaded on a waiting cog.	The water filled ditch and swollen River Gwendraeth indicate recent rains.	The new chapel tower makes a fine addition to the view from the east.


Here's the new stone bridge into the Great Gatehouse...	...and a closer look at the Chapel Tower.	Here is the back of the Gatehouse, with elegant quarters for the sheriff.	This view shows the Gate- house from the west, with its impressive watch turret.	The steps still lead up to the outer curtain, which does have new taller towers.	The towers were partially roofed and taller, but how those melded is unclear. Here's my take.

Photos of the Lego Model Built April 1990

West View	Southwest View	South View	Closeup View


Six wooden towers augment the gatehouse and timber palisade.	The north gate has it's own drawbridge.	The view from the northeast shows the modest supply dock and steps up the hill to the bridge.	Finally the east view across the River Gwendraeth.


The garrison is fed by the castle's well-tended garden...	...as well as sheep and pigs.	The small chapel is the finest building constructed by Henry I's men.	The lumberman not only supplies wood for the continuing construction, but clears the area near the ditch.


Great Gatehouse (cutaway view)	Great Gatehouse (ground floor plan)	Great Gatehouse (first floor plan)

Build Your Own The 2016 Lego plan is too large for me to scan, even in sections, but here is an elevation of the 1106 version I've pieced together.

1990 Lego Plan	2016 East Elevation of the ~1106 palisade castle


Plan of the Castle	Painting of the Castle (with key)