As a World Heritage Site Beaumaris castle brings wonder and beauty through its walls and history. Located in the picturesque island of Anglesey the castle offers a “cherry on top” experience to all travellers as it has done for centuries.

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Filmed: Summer 2023
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Short History
In 1282, Edward Ist invaded North Wales with a huge army. He colonised North Wales and enacted the Statute of Rhuddlan in 1284 which laid out the provisions for its governance.
In 1294, Madog ap Llywelyn led a bloody uprising against English rule which Edward suppressed over the winter.
Work began on fortifying the area in 1295 following the uprising and Beaumaris (meaning fair marsh) was chosen.
Work was overseen by James of St George who was appointed Master of the King’s works in Wales.
An average of 2,625 people worked on the site to begin with, costing £270 a week in wages. The project quickly fell into arrears, forcing officials to pay with leather tokens instead of coinage.
Edward was distracted by war in Scotland and work slowed down.
By 1330, £15,000 had been spent and the castle was still not finished.

In 1400, Owain Glyndŵr led a revolt against English rule in North Wales. Beaumaris Castle was placed under siege and captured by the rebels in 1403, and retaken by royal forces in 1405.

The castle was illmaintained and fell into disrepair and by 1534, water was leaking into every room and by 1609 the castle was classed as “utterly decayed”.

In 1642, when the Civil War broke out Beaumaris Castle became a strategic location as it controlled part of the route between the king's bases in Ireland and his operations in England.
Bulkeley family, who had held the castle for several centuries may have spent £3,000 on improving its defences. It would eventually surrender to Parliamentary forces in 1646. But Anglesey revolted in 1648 when it was returned to Royalist forces only to surrender again later in the year.

After the war many castles were slighted, but Parliament feared a Scottish attack and so Beaumaris was spared.

Beaumaris was eventually bought from the Crown in 1807 by Lord Thomas Bulkeley. By this point the castles in North Wales became attractive locations for painters and travellers.
Even Queen Victoria visited in 1832.

In 1925, Richard WilliamsBulkeley placed the castle into the care of the Commissioners of Work.
In 1986, the castle became a UNESCO world heritage site as one of "the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe”.

#Castle #Wales #Anglesey #EdwardI

Further Reading
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaumar...
https://www.beaumaris.com

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