Hawarden Old Castle, Medieval fortress ruins in Hawarden, Wales
Hawarden Old Castle is a ruined fortress in north Wales featuring a circular Norman keep sitting atop a mound, with remaining rectangular towers and defensive walls spread across the hilltop. The remains clearly show the layout of a border stronghold with its defensive lines intact.
The stone fortress was built starting in 1280, replacing an earlier Norman earthwork that had served as a military outpost controlling this border region. During the English Civil War, Parliamentary forces besieged and destroyed it after nearly a year of fighting.
The castle served as a symbol of power on the border between Wales and England, shaped by both cultures over centuries. Today visitors can sense this shared history in how the structure sits within the landscape and community.
The castle opens to visitors only on designated Sundays throughout the year, with access through a stone archway at the center of the village. Wear comfortable shoes as the ground is uneven and can be muddy depending on recent weather.
The site sits atop Iron Age settlement remains, revealing that this hilltop was occupied by people long before the castle was ever built. This layering of different eras makes it a place where ancient and medieval histories overlap.
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