Swansea Castle

Swansea Castle stands in the heart of Swansea, Wales, beside Castle Square. Built in 1107 by Henry de Beaumont, it once covered nearly two hectares and formed the main stronghold of the Lordship of Gower. Today only two ruined stone blocks remain, arranged in an L-shape along a short stretch of parapet wall. Five vaulted basement rooms survive beneath the visible structure. The River Tawe once flowed just east of the site, now marked by the Strand. In the early 20th century part of the motte was removed for a newspaper office. The castle’s long history includes sieges, rebuilding and changing uses. Rhys ap Gruffydd, Prince of Deheubarth, captured it in 1192 after ten weeks of blockade. The stone ‘New Castle’ was erected between 1221 and 1284, with arcaded parapets added in the 1300s. By the 1400s it had lost its military value, and later became a bottle factory, town hall, workhouse and drill hall. Dylan Thomas worked in the newspaper offices here in the 1930s. Visitors now find a paved courtyard framed by the surviving castle walls. Information panels explain the site’s past. The tall garderobe tower still shows its elegant arcades, similar to those at Lamphey and St Davids. The castle is a scheduled monument with Grade I listing. Occasional tours and events bring the ruins to life, while the square outside remains a busy public space.