Castell Caergwrle / Caergwrle Castle

Hello again people and pooches. Joe the Cocker here after an evening trip to Castell Caergwrle or Caergwrle Castle. It’s a 15-minute drive from home, so rather than walk around Ruabon, my human suggested that we nip to the castle. We have never visited Caergwrle before but had driven through it many times on our way to Yr Wyddgrug or Mold. The village lies on the River Alyn or Afon Alyn and is at the base of Hope Mountain or Mynydd yr Hob.

Parking wasn’t a problem because there is a fair sized car park in the village centre, only a short walk to the path that leads uphill to the castle. At the foot of the hill is the village War Memorial that marks the sacrifice made by 96 lost to the First and Second World Wars. Their names are engraved onto the 14 foot tall Celtic Cross.

To the left of the memorial is a path that leads, steeply in places, to the remains of the castle. As there was nobody around at the time of our visit, I was allowed to run off-lead. I spotted a few squirrels, my nemesis, scurrying around on the woodland path. As usual, I gave chase, but as usual, the bushy tailed tree rats outsmarted me by running up the nearest tree. My human was busy peering through gaps between the trees at the view over Caergwrle village.

It was only a short hike to the plateau at the hills summit. The big feller was puffing and panting as he is carrying a bit extra timber! He needs to put some effort into exercising rather than shovelling Doritos and dips into his face.

We spent a few moments looking at the views of the surrounding countryside while my human regained his composure and allowed his heart rate to drop to a reasonable level.

Our first view of the castle soon appeared. The ruins still stand tall and bold in places within a well maintained area cared for by Cadw. It is a Grade l Listed Building and is free to visit and explore. In 1267, Henry ll of England recognised Llewellyn ap Gruffydd as Prince of Wales and, along with his three brothers, joint heirs to the kingdom of Gwynedd. However, Llewellyn took sole control and declared war on his brothers. Dafydd formed an alliance with Edward l and became Lord of Hope. Llewellyn ruled over the mountainous areas of Gwynedd while Dafydd ruled over the prestigious lowland.

The castle was built on the site of an earlier hillfort in 1277 by Dafydd ap Gruffydd, who was then in service to Edward l of England. Dafydd’s men rebelled against the English shortly after. Edward sent Reginald de Grey to take the castle in 1282, but Dafydd had sabotaged it. Dafydd was later captured by Edward and hung, drawn and quartered.

Edward commenced rebuilding the castle and gave it to his wife, Eleanor of Castile. The following year, there was a large fire that damaged the castle and the newly erected buildings surrounding it. The castle was abandoned and never rebuilt.

Much of the stone that the castle was constructed from was later removed by local people for building use over the following years. What remains now is a fraction of the original building.

It was a fun area for me to explore. There are plenty of nooks and crannies for me to sniff around. I was allowed to climb on some of the lower walls, but my human soon became nervous when I became a bit too adventurous. There are some areas with steep drops below. He thinks that I am stupid.

So, when it came to climbing to the window in the wall, I received an earfull off my human boss.

There are a few small wooden bridges leading from different sections of the grounds. I was busy, minding my own business and sniffing under one bridge when I had to pose for yet another photograph. The King of Caergwrle Castle!

After another quick look back at the castle, we retraced our paw steps back down the hill.

The castle was gifted to the Hope Parish Council in 1961 and is commemorated by a plaque at the gate to the hillside footpath. A local saying is ‘Live in Hope and Die in Caergwrle’

Till next time!