Dolbadarn Castle

In the community of Llanberis.
In the historic county of Caernarfonshire (Modern authority of Gwynedd, preserved county of Gwynedd).

Probably built by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth ('the Great') early in C13, the castle is dominated by a massive round-towered keep, still standing up to 50 feet high. Welsh princely castle located on a triangular rocky site of moderate strength; one or two small rectangular towers, and a fine round keep on the curtain. Some rebuilding, which may include the keep. First mentioned in 1284 when being dismantled. Said to have been in existence in 1255. The highly developed keep is likely to be the last, rather than the earliest, part of the fabric.

This site has been described as a;
Masonry Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Major remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SH586598

Sources of information, references and further reading

Web site links

http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=6&PlaceID=66
http://www.castlewales.com/dolbd.html

Books

Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p33-5
Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p76-8
Salter, Mike, 1997, The Castles of North Wales (Malvern) p40-1
Davis, Paul R., 1988, Castles of the Welsh Princes (Swansea)
Avent, Richard, 1983, Castles of the Princes of Gwynedd (Cardiff)
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p34
Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p349
Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
RCAHMW, 1960, A survey and inventory of the Ancient Monuments of Caernarvonshire Vol2: Central (HMSO) p165-8
Neaverson, E., 1947, Mediaeval Castles in North Wales: A study of Sites, Water Supply, and Building Stones (London) p33-4
Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol3 (London) p438-41
Buck, Samuel and Nathenial, 1774, Buck’s Antiquities (London) Vol2 p374

Journal Articles

King, D.J.C., 1979, ‘Dolbadam Castle’, 126th Annual Meeting, Lleyn and Snowdonia, 1979, CAA p26-7
Rees, D. Morgan, 1975, 'Dolbadarn Castle' Archaeological Journal Vol132 p
Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol112 p77-124
Renn, D.F., 1961, 'The round keeps of the Brecon region' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol110 p139 and plate
Hemp, 1937, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol92 p360-1

Guidebooks

Avent, Richard, 2004, DOLWYDDELAN CASTLE, DOLBADARN CASTLE, CASTELL Y BERE (CADW)
Radford, 1956, DOLBADARN CASTLE (HMSO)
Radford, 1948, DOLBADARN CASTLE (HMSO)

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant

The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales, the four welsh archaeological trusts and other indivduals and organisations.

It is an offence to disturb a Scheduled Ancient Monument without consent. It is a destruction of everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from any site without proper recording and reporting. Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation.

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*The listed building may no be the actual medieval building, but a building on the site of, or incorporating fragments of, the described site.

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