Raglan Castle

December 2, 2015
Share this:

Raglan Castle

Impressive ruins of a late-medieval castle in southeast Wales

Raglan Castle, set atop a hill just north of the village of Raglan in south-east Wales, creates a commanding presence, visible from nearby roadways. Equally impressive is the view of the surrounding countryside from the castle grounds.

Raglan Castle (Castell Rhagland in Welsh) was built of two different kinds of sandstone and was designed more to impress than to serve as a fortress. Part castle, part palace, it was built late in the day in terms of castle building. More attention was paid to comfort than in earlier castles. Still it was strong enough to hold off Oliver Cromwell’s forces for thirteen weeks during one of the last sieges of the English Civil War. The castle was eventually conquered and destroyed. But enough remains in its ruins today to impress.

Raglan Castle

Great Tower on the left, Gatehouse on the right

Building of the castle started in the 1430s by Sir William ap Thomas. He began building the Great Tower, subsequently known as the Yellow Tower of Ghent. The hexagonal tower was surrounded by a water-filled moat. Inside, there was a single large room on each floor.

Raglan Castle moat around Great Tower

Moat around Great Tower

 

Raglan Castle entry to Great Tower

Entry across drawbridge to Great Tower

Following ap Thomas’s death, his son William Herbert continued to develop the castle. He turned the castle into a palace. He added the Gatehouse and the Pitched Stone Court. He built luxurious apartments for himself and his household set around a fountain courtyard.

Raglan Castle Pitched Stone Court

Raglan Castle Pitched Stone Court

 

Raglan Castle staircase into Fountain Court

At meal time, guests filed out of their rooms, in order of importance,
down the grand staircase into Fountain Court and then into the great hall

Herbert was beheaded following a defeat at the Battle of Edgecote in 1469, after which there were no major changes to the castle until the ownership of William Somerset, Earl of Worcester, in 1549 to 1590. He made extensive changes to the hall, created beautiful windows filled with heraldic glass, and added the long gallery, a Tudor status symbol. Parliamentary troops besieged the castle in 1646.

Drawing of Raglan Castle

Drawing showing what Raglan Castle once looked like

Rooms inside the Gatehouse contain displays detailed the history of the castle and its owners, complete with drawings of what it once looked like.

Raglan Castle kitchen fireplace

One of the kitchen fireplaces

The kitchen was designed with banquets in mind and contained huge fireplaces, serving hatches, and drains. Cellars built over 500 years ago were well-stocked with wines from all over Europe.

View from Raglan Castle

View from Raglan Castle

Raglan Castle is well worth a visit. It also has a lovely gift store.

Raglan Castle is open daily, although hours vary by season. There is a large car park on site. Although disabled persons and their companions are admitted free, there are steps within the castle grounds, making wheelchair access limited.

Raglan Castle view

If you enjoyed this post, sign up for Destinations Detours and Dreams monthly e-newsletter. Get behind the scenes information and sneak peeks ahead in addition to a recap of the month’s posts.  

PIN IT

Raglan Castle in Wales: The impressive late-medieval ruins perched on a hilltop provide a glimpse into fifteenth and sixteenth life in what was part castle, part palace. #GreatBritain #castle #Wales

Share this:
  • Reply
    Beth Niebuhr
    December 2, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    I suppose everyone is intrigued by castles. I’ve gotten to stay in a couple of them and I love to do that. This one is really scenic and has a great story.

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 3, 2015 at 7:54 am

      Beth, I would love to stay in a castle some day.

  • Reply
    Susan Cooper/findingourwaynow.com
    December 3, 2015 at 3:51 am

    I’ve been there! When my brother and his family lived in England it was his favorite castle. They would picnic there every so often. When I visited the family in Englad we would visit and do the same.

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 3, 2015 at 7:55 am

      Susan, Raglan Castle is a great spot for a picnic.

  • Reply
    william Rusho
    December 3, 2015 at 9:17 am

    What a wonderful post. I like the history of this castle that you provided. It is a shame many of these castles, if not most, have decayed due to the ravages of time or war. I wished we could get the funds to rebuild them to their former glory.
    Thanks for sharing this great post with us.

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 5, 2015 at 9:04 am

      William, it is a shame what war and time have done to the castles.

  • Reply
    jacquiegum
    December 3, 2015 at 11:59 am

    Wow, what a story! Stunning, too. Can’t imagine what it would be like to live there!

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 5, 2015 at 9:06 am

      Jacquie, the displays inside the Gatehouse gave a fair bit of information to help the imagination envision life in the castle.

  • Reply
    Catarina Alexon
    December 7, 2015 at 11:12 am

    Am getting a tour with you of beautiful places in the UK I never visited despite living in London for 15 years. Thanks for sharing.

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 8, 2015 at 9:08 am

      I’m glad you’re enjoying the tour Catarina.

  • Reply
    Ken Dowell
    December 7, 2015 at 5:06 pm

    Living in North America you might go to some historical house or castle that was built in the 19th century and think it’s pretty old. Nope. This is what is means to be old.

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 8, 2015 at 9:11 am

      Ken, definitely older than most of the historical buildings in North America, although you can find native ruins older than this (such as the Hohokam ruins in Arizona).

  • Reply
    Sabrina Quairoli
    December 7, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    Thanks for sharing the history of Raglan Castle. Looks like a great place to visit.

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 8, 2015 at 9:11 am

      Thanks Sabrina

  • Reply
    Jeri Walker (@JeriWB)
    December 7, 2015 at 9:14 pm

    There is just something so admittedly appealing about exploring old ruins. Raglan Castle looks well worth the trip.

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 8, 2015 at 9:12 am

      There is something appealing about exploring old ruins, isn’t there Jeri?

  • Reply
    lenie5860
    December 8, 2015 at 5:49 am

    Donna, I so much enjoy these posts of yours. I loved seeing the photo of the moat. I’ve read about them of course, but seeing this picture – it really is true – a picture is worth a thousand words.

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 8, 2015 at 9:12 am

      Thanks Lenie.

  • Reply
    heraldmarty
    December 8, 2015 at 11:53 am

    I think Beth is right, many people are fascinated by castles and that includes me. I’ve never stayed at one but I’d love to do that one day. Fascinating journey, thanks Donna!

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 10, 2015 at 1:42 pm

      Castles are indeed fascinating.

  • Reply
    Meredith @ The Palette Muse
    December 8, 2015 at 1:12 pm

    A castle with a real moat – how cool! And I’m glad I don’t have to cook in a giant fireplace like that. Thanks for the tour!

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 10, 2015 at 1:43 pm

      Meredith, that fireplace may have been the latest at the time, but I’m with you – I prefer my modern kitchen.

  • Reply
    Erica
    December 9, 2015 at 11:12 am

    It is amazing that one castle can have so much history. It is fascinating to think how many lives were lived within those walls. And that it was destroyed, but its remains are still so breathtaking. Raglan Castle looks worth the trip.

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 10, 2015 at 1:44 pm

      Erica, it was a bit of a surprise to discover that ruins could be so breathtaking.

  • Reply
    Doreen Pendgracs
    December 9, 2015 at 3:12 pm

    Thx for taking us to Raglan Castle, Donna. I would love to stay in a castle one day. As long as it’s not haunted!

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 10, 2015 at 1:45 pm

      Doreen, I don’t know if I would stay in a haunted castle either, but I think my daughter and niece would be attracted to one that claimed to be haunted.

  • Reply
    patweber
    December 9, 2015 at 4:00 pm

    My husband and I love castles! We’ve been in them in Italy, Turkey, and a couple of other places. These pics are terrific Donna.

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 10, 2015 at 1:46 pm

      Thanks Pat.

  • Reply
    Jeannette Paladino
    December 10, 2015 at 12:03 am

    Donna — quite a few years ago I did work at agency for the Welsh economic development agency and had the good fortune to visit Wales for a week. It’s quite beautiful. Also has a respected opera company. Did you by chance hear any Welsh being spoken? Very strange language.

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 10, 2015 at 1:52 pm

      Jeanette, I did not hear much Welsh spoken. My husband and I tried to figure out the pronunciation of the Welsh place names.We wondered about so many towns starting with Llan. We asked at one local tourist office about it. The woman there didn’t know, but looked it up and said it meant something “parish” or land”.

  • Reply
    Rose Mary Griffith
    December 11, 2015 at 4:08 pm

    I never get tired of touring castles, Donna–in person or with your blogs

    • Reply
      Donna Janke
      December 12, 2015 at 9:56 am

      Thanks Rose Mary

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.