Entrance to the castle at Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, Wales Wales Wales. Was seized in 1215 by Llewelyn the Great (Llywelyn ap Iorwerth)
The town takes its name from the cantref of Emlyn which was an administrative district in Medieval Dyfed. The cantref was made part of the Norman March in the 12th century. The meandering river surrounds the castle site on three sides, making it a perfect location, easily defended from attack. The castle dates to at least 1215 when it was seized by Llewelyn the Great (Llewelyn Fawr). It was strengthened by Maredudd ap Rhys Grug. around 1240, captured by the English in 1287, retaken by Rhys ap Maredudd, and then recaptured again by the English. The defences were strengthened in the 1340s but the castle was captured by Owain Glyndwr in his early 15th-century rebellion against English rule. The rebellion was crushed and the castle was retaken, but it returned to Welsh hands once more in the late 15th century. In 1485 Sir Rhys ap Thomas rebuilt the medieval fortress as a comfortable residence, but his descendant Rhys ap Gruffydd was convicted of treason in 1530 and the castle was seized by the Crown. But that was not the end of the castle's turbulent history. It was held by Royalist troops in the English Civil War, captured by Parliament in 1644, and recaptured by Royalists the following year. It was the last Royalist stronghold, but finally surrendered to Parliament in 1648. According to local legend, Newcastle Emlyn saw the last appearance of a dragon in Wales. according to the tale, a winged creature known as a wyvern flew over the town during a fair. It landed on the castle wall and promptly fell asleep. A clever soldier lay a shawl on the river and hid nearby. When the dragon awoke it was attracted by the shawl and flew down to the river to snatch it. The soldier leapt out of hiding and speared the dragon, and the dragon's blood poisoned the river. It seems a fanciful story, but might there be historical truth behind it? For one thing, the poisoned water was held to a cause of the plague that affected 14th-century Britain so badly.
Size: 4590px × 3055px
Location: Newcastle Emlyn Carmarthenshire Wales UK
Photo credit: © Daniel Valla FRPS / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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