Visit Times – Friday 9th & Saturday 10th September
PREBOOKING REQUIRED - (see www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseacastle or telephone 01792 468321)
 The castle buildings will be open to the public over the 9th and 10th September between 9am and 5.15pm.
This will be the first time that the buildings will have been open to the public for c40 years and has been made possible by a project part funded by the Welsh Government, Cadw and the City and County of Swansea.
Swansea Castle or the ‘New Castle’ (the old castle site was to the north) was built in the thirteenth century by Lord William de Braose as accommodation for him and his family. The distinctive arcaded parapet was added later, as were the circular gun ports in the top of the round tower (probably during the War of the Roses). Later the castle site has housed a town hall, drill hall for the local militia, a General Post Office, and the printing presses for the South Wales Evening Post. Following bomb damage during World War II, the site was largely cleared of buildings and the vaulted rooms of the castle were obscured until recently when the debris has been removed to allow access.
The Main Castle contains five stone vaulted undercrofts on the ground floors which were used for storing wine beer and other goods. Two staircases lead up to the first floor into the solar (reception room) and hall where the lord and his family/guests would eat. The round tower of the castle gave wonderful views across the medieval town and the people could also access the wall walk above the arcaded parapet.
The north east tower was used in the eighteenth century as Swansea's debtors' prison and the building still contains three cells complete with cell doors and prisoner graffiti!
NOTE the opening dates for this venue differ from other participants. |
