Chepstow Castle Castles

The ruins of Chepstow Castle have a spectacular setting on cliffs over the River Wye. This powerful defensive position can best be seen from several points on the English side of the river. Entered by the Gateway at the lower end of town, its long shape, hugging the cliff edge, shows clearly its several stages of development from its early Norman beginnings.

During the Civil War and afterwards it was used as a prison - famous ?guests? were the Royalist Bishop Jeremy Taylor, and the Regicide Henry Marten, whose name is now applied to the Tower where he spent 12 years in comfortable captivity until his death in 1680. The garrison and guns left in 1690 and the Castle?s defences were ?dismantled?. The Castle was allowed to decay and areas of it used for small industries. It was eventually passed over to the care of the State in 1953.

The castle is open to the public daily throughout the year and ample parking is provided off Bridge Street immediately below the Castle. A major exhibition ?A Castle at War? which includes life-size models and a dramatic Civil War battle scene, explores both the medieval development of the Castle, and its role in the Civil War.