It has a unique'diamond' in layout as the gatehouses are positioned at the corners of the square baileys instead of along the sides like at Flint, Harlech or Beaumaris. Rhuddlan Castle OS grid ref:- SJ 024 779. In July 1277, at the outbreak of the Welsh Wars, Edward I left Chester and established an advance base at Flint, where building work immediately began on Flint Castle. A mighty English fortress built to mark the new frontier following Edward I’s initial punitive campaign into Wales, Rhuddlan Castle ultimately became the launch pad for the complete conquest of the principality. Rhuddlan Castle was one of the iron ring of strongholds built by Edward I in his conquest of Wales. Rhuddlan Castle (Welsh language: Castell Rhuddlan ) is a castle located in Rhuddlan, Denbighshire, Wales. Many years before the Edwardian castle and the Norman occupation, Rhuddlan was the heart of the country. Its defense was made up of two corner, cylindrical towers, one from the north and one from the south. Construction of Rhuddlan Castle began in 1277 and it was built in a concentric style. Construction of Rhuddlan Castle began in 1277 and it was built in a concentric style. It was erected by Edward I in 1277 following the First Welsh War. It was built soon after the conquest of Wales. Today the pretty ruins of Rhuddlan Castle are open to the public. The town is known for the ruins of Rhuddlan Castle, built by order of King Edward I from 1277 to 1282, and for the site of another castle at Twthill, built by the Norman Robert of Rhuddlan about 1072. It finally surrendered to the Roundhead forces in 1647. The new castle at Rhuddlan replaced the existing motte and bailey castle that had been built following the Norman Conquest. Twthill castle was built to a 'motte and bailey' design and was erected by Robert of Rhuddlan in 1073. The castle underwent a further long siege in the first part of the Civil War, when it held out for the Royalist cause. Rhuddlan Castle was designed by Master Bertram, the English king's engineer, but actually built in 1277-82 for Edward I by the famous Master James of St. George.Built on a site in North Wales recognized as strategic, it replaced a nearby motte castle built about 1070. In the late 11 th century, the Normans invaded after conquering England. The remains of a Norman castle at Twthill, built in 1086, is just to the south of the current castle. Rhuddlan Castle occupies an important place in the history of Wales. It ceded all the lands of the former Welsh Princes to the English Crown and introduced English Common Law. He was a kinsman of Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester and the castle was designed to consolidate Norman advances into the north of Wales at the command of William the Conqueror.Using this castle as a base, Robert subdued the Welsh and established control of much of North Wales. Though not as famous as some of its more illustrious neighbours, Rhuddlan Castle in Flintshire is nonetheless impressive. Rhuddlan Castle was one of the iron ring of strongholds built by Edward I in his conquest of Wales. From here all the Lords of Rhuddlan ruled over North West Wales. The Statute of Rhuddlan was signed here in 1284 following the defeat of Llewellyn the Last. An English outpost in hostile Welsh territory the castle could be re-supplied from the sea due to an extensive canalisation of the River Clwyd. Rhuddlan was fought over by the Princes of Gwynedd and the Earls of Chester. After the Civil War the castle was rendered untenable – hence its present condition. 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