Raglan Castle

Hexagonal Great Tower

Raglan Castle is situated in the gently undulating Welsh borders. Raglan Castle is famed for its striking hexagonal Great Tower (The Yellow Tower of Gwent) and elaborate drawbridge. Begun around 1435, Raglan Castle was the work of Sir William ap Thomas a wealthy landowner and veteran of the French wars. After his death, his son William Herbert took over construction of the Raglan Castle and between 1460 and 1469 he created a true palace that was more a product of social grandeur than of military necessity.

Civil War

During the Civil War Charles I stayed at Raglan Castle and in 1646 it almost defied Cromwell's demolition engineers who battered the Great Tower with pick axes, bringing down two of the six walls and leaving what can be found today. Hints of the former splendour of Raglan Castle can still be seen in the windows and huge fireplace of the great hall. Raglan Castle is also unique as part of it is constructed of brick, ranking amongst the earliest use of this building material in Wales, UK.
An exhibition on the history of Raglan Castle is situated in the Closet Tower and Gate Passage.
Visit Raglan Castle: Tel. 0291 690228.

More information

Castles Main Page
Castles : Their Construction and History