Home > Carew Castle > Norman Period

Above: Carew during the Norman Period

Building History:

Normans

• End of 11th Century --> conquest of Wales
• Pembroke Castle = center of Norman rule in South Pembrokeshire
• Gerald de Windsor, constable of the castle on behald of Henry I
• de Windsor's own castle, Carew Castle, built 10 miles upstream
• Built originally of earth and wooden stakes

2nd Stage

• Earth + Wood castle replaced by stone

3rd Stage

• work of Sir Nicholas de Carew (d. 1311) --> east and west ranges
• most of what is seen today

4th Stage

• Late fifteenth century --> improved and extended
• Work done by Sir Rhys ap Thomas (1449-1525)
• Altered both the east and west ranges, Bath stone windows

Above: Carew during the Middle Ages

Political History:

• William of Normandy came to St. David's in 1081 but the conquest of SW Wales was not until the next reign of William Rufus
• In the 13th century Henry I built the castle to defend against Wales, he made it fully prepared for attack down to the detail of murder holes at the entry