Four Castles of the River Wye,1066 to 1282

History of Pont Hendre and Longtown Castles

Four Castles of the River Wye,1066 to 1282 is a detailed analysis of the history of Pont Hendre and Longtown Castles, together with the Lacy Family between 1066 and 1241. The book includes footnotes to the original sources and comments on the lordship of Ewias Lacy.
Detailed description of the Tenurial history and the Castle sites and their development. With 26 black and white photos 1 map, 5 plans and one reconstruction drawing.

Longtown castle

Longtown castle stands in an isolated valley for from the major routes into and out of Wales. Consequently it always lived a quiet life and never saw siege. The attack on the castle alleged in 1146 is in fact simply an error for Llanstephan castle in Carmarthenshire. Indeed Longtown castle was not even founded for a further twenty years! The history of the castle is taken up to its abandonment in the fifteenth century, though the detail is left to the second work in the series, The Castles of Ewias Lacy, 1048 to 1403.

Early history of the lordship

Deals with the early history of the lordship from Roman days until the mid-thirteenth century. An examination of the Norman penetration of the Welsh cantref of Ewias is undertaken and the relationship between Longtown and the other castles of the district is discussed. In the early years of the Norman Conquest this fortress was otherwise known as Ewias Lacy and stood at Pont Hendre a mile south of the present ruins.

Foundation of the castle

Also chronicled is the possible foundation of the castle as a fortress by Earl Harold (k.1066) and the Lacy dispute with the great Pain Fitz John and his descendants during the anarchy of King Stephen's reign (1135-54). The story ends with the death of Walter Lacy in poverty during February 1241.

Lacy family

The deeds of the Lacy family in England, Ireland, Wales and Normandy are examined in detail until the extinction of the main line in 1241. Archaeology; Pont Hendre, probably the original 'main' castle of Ewias Lacy barony, is examined first with the aid of pictures and a plan. The next exploration is of Longtown castle with its great early thirteenth century round tower, two older walled baileys and earlier possibly Saxon earthworks.