Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Beaumaris Castle (Beaumaris)

Beaumaris Castle is one of the finest castles in Britain, situated at Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey off the coast of North Wales.

It is one of the ring of castles built by Edward I to subdue the Welsh, the others being at Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech. It was never completed, but is very impressive anyway. What was built was completed in 1298.

Edward evicted the Welsh people who lived nearby, and founded a new English town outside the gate of the castle.

The architect of Beaumaris Castle, as in the case of Edward's others, was the brilliant Master James of St. George. He constructed the walls concentrically, but with a complicated maze-like system that would have rendered it virtually impossible for attackers to successfully get in.

The castle has a moat, and a dock which could accommodate a 40 ton ship.

One of the Constables of Beaumaris was Harry Hotspur, who was killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403.

The castle is now in the hands of Cadw, and open to the public.