Beaumaris Castle, on the Isle of Anglesey in north Wales, is considered the most technically perfect castle in Britain. The last and most ambitious of Edward I's castles, it has an almost perfectly symmetrical concentric plan, with "walls within walls", surrounded by a water-filled moat. It was never finished, but that is precisely what gives it its particular charm. Together with Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
History
In 1294 the Welshman Madog ap Llywelyn led a great revolt against English rule. Having crushed it, Edward I decided to build one last castle to control Anglesey, the granary of Wales, and the Menai Strait. Work began in 1295 under the direction of Master James of St George, the architect of all the Edwardian castles. The name comes from the Norman French beau marais, "fair marsh", because the castle rose on marshy ground near the sea.
In the early years thousands of men worked here, but the money soon ran out, partly because of the king's wars in Scotland. Around 1330 work stopped: the inner towers never reached their planned height. The castle was briefly taken by the Welsh forces of Owain Glyndŵr in the early 15th century and was used during the Civil War in the 17th century, then fell into ruin. For background see the history of Wales.
- 1294Revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn
- 1295Edward I begins building the castle
- c. 1330Work stops, leaving the towers unfinished
- 1403Owain Glyndŵr's forces occupy the castle
- 1986The castle becomes a UNESCO World Heritage Site
What to see
The concentric castle
The castle consists of two rings of walls: a lower outer one, with many towers, and a higher inner one, with six towers and two great gatehouses. An attacker who got past the first wall would have found himself in a narrow corridor, under fire from the defenders. You can walk along much of the wall-walks and through the passages inside the walls, with arrow slits looking over the moat. The chapel in one of the towers, with its vaults and lancet windows, is one of the best-preserved rooms.
The moat and the dock
The moat, still filled with water, was linked to the sea: beside the Gate next the Sea there is a small dock where ships could moor to supply the castle directly from the strait. Today swans and ducks swim there.
The town
Beaumaris is a charming town of colourful Georgian and Victorian houses facing the Menai Strait, with a splendid view of the mountains of Snowdonia. You can visit the Victorian gaol of 1829, with its cells and a treadwheel for prisoners, and the courthouse of 1614, one of the oldest in the United Kingdom. Boat trips to Puffin Island leave from the pier.
Practical information
The castle is open all year round and is cared for by Cadw. It is less crowded than Caernarfon and Conwy, and the visit is also suitable for children. Opening times and prices are on the Cadw website.
Getting there
- By train and bus: by train to Bangor, then a bus to Beaumaris in about 30 minutes, crossing the Menai Suspension Bridge.
- By car: from the A55, across the Menai Bridge; parking on the seafront.
- By air: Liverpool and Manchester airports are about two hours away.
Nearby
- Penmon Priory, with its lighthouse and view of Puffin Island.
- Caernarfon Castle and Conwy Castle.
- Thomas Telford's Menai Suspension Bridge of 1826, and the village with the very long name, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll.
Tips
- How long: an hour and a half for the castle, half a day with the town.
- When to go: April to October; on clear days the view of Snowdonia is superb.
- A tip: climb onto the wall-walks of the inner walls: from there you fully grasp the geometry of the castle and can see the whole strait.