Rhuddlan Castle

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Rhuddlan Castle is a Welsh castle located in Rhuddlan, Denbighshire. It was erected by King Edward I beginning in 1277, but was not completed until 1282.

The castle sits alongside the River Clwyd, which allowed the castle to be provisioned through a special canal built for that purpose. During the castle's lengthy construction, the Clwyd was straightened and dredged to facilitate deliveries to the castle. Rhuddlan was planned as a concentric castle, boasting twin-tower gatehouses in its inner ward and small towers and turrets in its outer ward. Rhuddlan is relatively unique in that it is 'diamond' in layout, the gatehouses positioned at the corners of the square baileys instead of along the sides as at Harlech, Caerphilly or Beaumaris.

[edit] History

Rhuddlan was not the first fortress built in this area. The remains of a castle built in 1086 called Twthill can be found close to Rhuddlan's current location.