Denbigh Castle Castles

The site of the castle was probably occupied from the early Christian period, with the possibility that a native Welsh fortress was built on the site and was being used as a royal centre immediately before the building of the current stone castle.

The current stone castle was begun by Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, to whom King Edward had granted the territory, shortly after the defeat of the last native Welsh prince, Dafydd ap Gruffudd, in 1282. It was besieged and captured by the Welsh during the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn in 1294; during the siege, a relieving force under de Lacy was defeated in a nearby battle.

During the English Civil War, Denbigh Castle was a stronghold of the Royalist cause, and King Charles I of England stayed there briefly in September 1645, when his forces in other parts of the country were suffering defeat after defeat.

The original plan of the castle consisted of a long span of curtain walls with irregularly spaced projecting, half round towers with two gateways. These original walls now form the town walls. The current castle was divided from the rest of the enclosed area by a newer set of more massive walls in the style of Caernarfon Castle, including the unique three-towered gatehouse that is its most striking feature. Although there is no hard evidence to prove it, it is widely believed that the architect responsible for these walls was the king's Master Mason, Master James of Saint George. The castle is also the home of one apparition of the Grey Lady.

The castle is now in the care of Cadw.