Photos of the Enigmatic Medieval White Castle Monmouthshire

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Photos of the Enigmatic Medieval White Castle Monmouthshire fortifications ruins, Wales. Also known as Castell Gwyn & Llantilio Castle. 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 Enigmatic Medieval White Castle Monmouthshire

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Photos of the Medieval White Castle also known as the Llantilio Castle, Monmouthshire, Wales.

The White Castle or Llantilio Castle

The Monnow valley was on an important medieval route that ran between Hereford and South Wales. To guard this valley three castles were built, the White castle, Skenfrith and Grosmont castle. The Norman earthworks that the White Castle is built on were probably built by Norman William fitz Osbern, a few months after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

The early Norman castle would have been made of timber and remained so until around 1185 when Ralph of Grosmont built a stone curtain wall around the inner ward.

The three castles were strengthened and altered by Hubert de Burgh, who was granted their lordship by King John in 1201. The White Castle consisted of an outer curtain wall with a walled inner ward within. The inner ward is surrounded by a moat and was accessed via a wooden draw bridge across the moat.