From the Western Mail, 24th March 2007

 

Castle reveals secrets after 900 years

 

An ancient castle which has been off limits to the public since it was built in 1088 is about to reveal its secrets for the first time.

 

Aberlleiniog Castle, located on the south east corner of Anglesey, has been witness to a long and fascinating series of owners and events. The little-known castle has been the site of a murder mystery, love triangles and even fatal duels, but few people are aware of its significance and no one has been allowed to visit for almost a thousand years.

 

All that is now set to change thanks to a £317,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The money will fund crucial restoration work of the castle masonry and strengthen the fabric of the castle mound to preserve its historic features and, through improved access, will ensure it remains a well-preserved focal point for the community for years to come.

 

Aberlleiniog Castle holds an important place in Welsh history. A site of conflict between Anglo-Norman colonists and the indigenous Welsh Princes, it was built by Hugh of Avraches, Earl of Chester, after his victory over Gruffydd ap Cynan, King of Gwynedd. Later it was also significant in the struggle between local families which characterised the Civil War in mid 17th century Anglesey.

 

The castle remained privately owned from the 11th century until 2004 when Menter Mon, the Rural Development Agency for Anglesey, purchased the castle and the 26 acres of adjoining land to give ownership to the people of Anglesey. The funding will ensure this significant archaeological resource, which holds vital information about Anglo-Norman structures, will be secured for future generations. Recent work has discovered that a fourth tower has already collapsed completely and two of the remaining towers would almost certainly be lost if this essential maintenance work is not carried out.

 

Jennifer Stewart, Heritage Lottery Fund manager for Wales, said, "Wales' many castles are a key element of our heritage and help to make Wales unique. This latest project will secure the future of a castle that is steeped in history but largely unknown outside of the local area. Menter Mon can now share its fascinating story not only with the local people of Anglesey but across the world. Castles are a big attraction for European and American visitors to Wales and Aberlleiniog will be no exception. Once restoration is complete Aberlleiniog Castle will undoubtedly give the area's tourism a boost providing the perfect setting for a rural day out where families can learn about our past while exploring our natural heritage."

 

The grant will also support the employment of a two-year community coordinator to encourage local people to get involved in the project as volunteers on the site or to assist in the creation of an interpretation panel and leaflet. The castle is located in ancient woodland in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that is the perfect habitat for birds, insects and bats, so volunteers will undergo training on how to manage the biodiversity of the site, which Menter Mon hopes will achieve Local Nature Reserve status.

 

Neil Johnstone, an archaeologist and Menter Mon project leader, said, "This is without doubt a very important archaeological site and we are totally focused on increasing interest in promoting the island's heritage."

 

The untold story of Aberlleiniog Castle

 

Aberlleiniog Castle was built by Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester, pictured, at the time when Gruffydd ap Cynan was ruler of Gwynedd. When Gruffydd escaped imprisonment at Chester and raised an army, the castle was captured and burnt to the ground. Sometime later a stone-built castle was constructed on the site, probably by a colourful 17th century character called Thomas Cheadle.

 

Cheadle, who worked for the Bulkeleys of Baron Hill, had a relationship with Sir Richard Bulkeley's wife. Lady Ann and Cheadle were accused of Sir Richard's murder, but were cleared and later married. Cheadle professed to be on the side of the Royalists in the Civil War and held the post of Constable of Beaumaris Castle. But his loyalty appears to have been questionable and he was accused of negotiating to hand the castle over to the Parliamentarians.

 

Some years later the sons of both Bulkeley and Cheadle fought a duel in which Bulkeley was killed. Cheadle was tried for murder, found guilty and executed by public hanging in Chester.

Just goes to show what can be hidden from the public gaze. Brilliant.

http://www.anglesey.info/Ancient-monuments-page-5.htm

These are the best photos I could find of the site.

From "The Castles of North Wales" by Mike Salter

 

This fine mound rises 9m high above a wide and deep dry ditch, between which and a natural fall of the ground to the south is a horn shaped bailey 30m wide by 45m long closed off on the east side by a very feeble ditch with a short section of rampart. A small mound at the west end of the bailey marks the site of the timber bridge up to the motte summit. The castle is assumed to have been erected in 1093 by the Earl of Chester, perhaps as a successor to a smaller mound on the shore to the east, and, after a battle and two sieges, it was captured by the Welsh in 1094.

 

Upon the mound is a very curious ruin, perhaps late medieval, but more likely to be of the Civil War period, when it was referred to as "Lady Cheadle's Fort". A thin and crude wall strengthened by later buttresses forms the outer face and parapet of an earth rampart 2m high. The entrance faced south-east and there is a latrine in the north-west wall. At three of the corners are turrets rising 5m high; the east turret has been destroyed. The turrets contained rooms at wall-walk level, where they are 4m in diameter. Below this level they are smaller and solid. There are no traces of internal buildings.

Ground plan of Aberlleiniog Castle, taken from "The Castles of North Wales" by Mike Salter

Once you've clicked on the thumbnails the pics are pretty good, though typically with many motte sites the trees get in the way!