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Deganwy Castle (; (B Text), 13th century . ; Modern ) was an early stronghold of Gwynedd in Deganwy, at the mouth of the River Conwy, now in Conwy county borough, north Wales. It sits at an elevation of 110 m (361 ft) on a volcanic plug in an area of limestone known as the Vardre.
Deganwy was probably first occupied during the Roman Britain period, but was popular in the years following their departure because it was safe from Ireland raids. The area beneath the rocky stronghold may have been the site of a settlement of serfs. The stronghold was burned down in 812 when it was struck by lightning..
By the 13th century, Deganwy was fortified by the Prince of Wales Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. It was captured by the Earl of Chester in 1210, but recaptured shortly afterward by Llywelyn, who had it refortified in stone. The Brut y Tywysogion recorded that "the earl of Chester again built the castle of Degannwy, which Llywelyn ap Iorwerth had destroyed for fear of the king.".
Ownership of the castle descended to his son, Dafydd ap Llywelyn; in 1241 Dafydd had the castle destroyed ahead of an English advance into the region.. The destruction is recorded in the Annales Cambriae.; . The events are included in version C of the manuscript: et cum non posset resistere regi, fregit castellum suum de Degannoe et alia. ("And although he could not resist the king, he slighted his castle and others.") King Henry III of England subsequently took control of the castle and embarked on an extensive building programme; the building work cost more than £2,200. The castle was Slighting by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Wales in 1263. In 1283, King Edward I of England had Conwy Castle constructed just across the estuary, but left Deganwy Castle in ruins.
During the excavations a dozen sherds of early medieval pottery which had been imported from the Mediterranean were discovered, indicating the far-reaching contacts of Gwynedd's royal dynasty.
In 2009, the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust carried out a geophysical survey of the bailey between the two hills and land immediately north and south of the castle.
Notes
Bibliography
Excavation and investigation
Between 1961 and 1966 Leslie Alcock led excavations at Deganwy Castle. The programme of work was planned by the University of Wales and funded by the Board of Celtic Studies and the Caernarvonshire Historical Society..
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See also
(2025). 9781783163519, University of Wales Press. ISBN 9781783163519
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