Flint Castle

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Flint Castle on the Dee Estuary

Flint Castle, located in Flint, Flintshire, was the first of a series of castles built during King Edward I's campaign to conquer Wales.

Situated over a harbour on the River Dee estuary, construction began in 1277 and continued for nine years. The castle is believed to have been based on French (or Savoyard) contemporary models, with one of the corner towers enlarged and isolated, made to serve as keep (e.g. Dourdan). The keep itself is of a unique plan to the British Isles, with the only close parallel to be found at Aigues-Mortes, France, which King Edward I, may have been familiar with. This plan, with the isolated keep was not repeated in the other castles of Edward I (see Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd).

In 1399 Richard II of England was captured and held there before being returned to London. The castle was occupied many times during the English Civil War and it has also been used as a quarry.

In 1838 J. M. W. Turner painted a watercolor of the castle.