Kidwelly Castle

#33 Kidwelly Castle
Carmarthenshire, Dyfed, Wales
1275
This is NOT an official Lego site

Constructed on a prominent ridge overlooking the river Gwendraeth, Kidwelly was originally a timber castle (see conjectural painting on the left) built by the Normans about 1106. It was after he returned from the Crusades with King Edward I that Payn de Chaworth began to transform the property his family acquired in 1244 into the magnificent masonry structure we see today. Begun in 1275, Kidwelly is a powerful semi-concentric castle.

The first stone castle was the square courtyard with four round corner towers and a Great Hall overlooking the river. The Great Gatehouse and accompanying semi-circular outer curtain with its three towers and North Gatehouse were added to re-enforce the deep ditches in the early 14th century, although it was about a century before the Great Gatehouse was completed. Further halls, stables, kitchens and other buildings were added as needed. An attack of three weeks length by Owain Glyndwr in 1403 failed and the castle was never seriously challenged again. It gradually fell into disrepair until rescued by the CADW: Welsh Historic Monuments.

Photos of the Lego Model Built April 1990

West View	Southwest View	South View	Closeup View


Great Gatehouse (cutaway view)	Great Gatehouse (ground floor plan)	Great Gatehouse (first floor plan)


Plan of the Castle	Painting of the Castle (with key)