Photos of the Medieval Raglan Castle Fortifications Wales

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Photos of the Late Medieval Raglan Castle Fortifications & moated Keep, Wales. Photos by photographer Paul E Williams.    (TIP – use the icons below the slideshow for thumbnail photos and info)

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Photos of the Late Medieval Raglan Castle Fortifications & moated Keep, Wales

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Photos of the late medieval Raglan Castle, Wales.

Founding Raglan Castle

Built by Sir William Thomas in the mid 1400’s in Monmouthshire, Wales, Raglan Castle is an impressive fortification. In the 15th and 17th centuries the castle was completed to become a luxurious fortified castle.

The Distinctive Hexagonal Towers of Raglan Castle

The use of hexagonal towers gives Raglan Castle a distinctive look. At the heart of Raglan Castle is the Great Tower, or the Yellow Tower, of Gwent, surrounded by a sunken moat. The keep joins the extensive main castle building via a high bridge over the moat.

Even in its ruined state Raglan Castle is impressive. It can still be seen that the rooms of the castle would have been well proportioned, airy and luxurious. Raglan Castle was built to impress and the design of its octagonal towers were probably imitate those of Caernarvon Castle.

The Last Medieval Formidable Castle

According to historian Anthony Emery Raglan Castle is one of the “last formidable displays of medieval defensive architecture”. The defensive power of Raglan Castle did not last long due to the invention of the cannon. The destructive force of cannon made castles like Raglan redundant.

Raglan Castle in the Civil War

This was proved during the English Civil War when Raglan Castle was taken by Parliamentary forces and slighted by having its defences walls taken down. This put Raglan Castle out of action forever.

The Somerset family, who owned Raglan Castle, did not restore it and the castle became a source of building material and declined into the romantic ruin we see today.