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1191

By the time it was burned down, the castle had become a very important place with stone buildings - quite impressive at a time when most buildings were wooden.

On the south side (far side in this view) the castle was protected by the very steep slope with stone buildings and walls at the top. On the north (near) and east sides, attackers met a succession of ditches and banks topped with stone walls.

The gate, with a tower on each side, was at the south-west corner (on the top right of this picture). The path to it outside comes sideways up a steep slope, making it difficult to ram.

The inner castle and square tower on the east side (left) was relatively new. The ditch cut into the rock between the inner castle and the bailey was still being excavated. Access to the inner castle was on a bridge across the ditch.

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1136

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The Square Tower

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FitzMartin

Rhys

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Nine Men’s Morris board

Comb

Shoe, re-sewn from torn leather

Stirrup

Decorated key

Spear tips

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There’s no evidence that the site was occupied before the Normans, but Cemaes was under the control of Cuhellyn.

Robert was the son of Martin de Tiron (Turribus), who was part of the invasion of England under William in 1066. By 1108, they were well established in Devon. Some of the Norman artifacts discovered in Nevern, such as pottery, are identifiably from Devon.

The Welsh re-occupied the area while the Normans were distracted with their squabble over the English throne. They retained control of Cemaes while William FitzMartin was still a child.

A truce was established by a deal between Rhys and Henry II, by which William and Rhys’ daughter Angharad married, and Rhys was an officer of Henry’s in Deheubarth.

When William went off on crusade, Rhys took control; but a family feud resulted in him being imprisoned by his own sons, and ended with the castle being burned down.

When William came back, he built a new castle as a commercial venture in Newport, encouraging Flemish and Norman settlers, but not providing them with very effective protection from the Welsh, who soon looted the place. The present Newport castle was built some years later when things had settled down.