CAREW
CASTLE & MILL
Norman-Tudor Castle and Tidal Mill
A short distance from the coast resort town of Tenby, just a turn off the road to Pembroke, the magnificent Carew Castle sits on a rise at the edge of the Carew Inlet, a tidal estuary of Milford Haven. The beautiful location has been a site for a fortification since the iron age. The current castle ruin takes its form from a Norman fortress castle reconstructed in the Tudor era, particularly recognized from the post gothic windows similar to those of Warwick (see Warwick Castle), but unlike its English
cousin the Welsh castle suffered a troubled history of changing loyalties.
The first Norman keep
was built on the site by Norman Gerald de Windsor about 1100 after
he was promoted to castellan of the principal castle
of Pembroke by Arnulf of Montgomery. (see Pembroke Castle) and granted
a portion of the lands to the east. Gerald's son William took the name
of de Carew from the possession and enlaged the castle with stone walls
around the original keep with a Great Hall added within. The high wall
castle form with rooms and halls of an inner ward was created by Nicholas
de Carew around 1270, following the influence of Edward I’s “Iron
Ring” castles (see Conwy Castle). Entrance to the inner ward is
across a dry moat which featured a barbican gatehouse. Earthwork barriers
to protect the outer ward were built by Royalist defenders during the
English Civil War after in the 1640s, when the south facing wall was
pulled down.
The de Carew family fell on difficult fortunes in the 1400s and the
castle was acquired by Rhys ap Thomas who made the fortunate choice of
switching sides in the Lancasterian-Yorkist wars, backing Henry Tewdr
(Tudor) of Pembroke just before the Battle of Bosworth. Rewarded with
a knightood and the the lands of the de Carews, he expanded the castle
with grand apartments, giving it the late 15th Century Tudor period features
which remain. But fortunes turned for the worse when his grandson was
executed by Henry VIII for treason in 1531.
The castle reverted to the crown and was leased out to various tenants until it was acquired by John Perrott in 1558, but he too was imprisoned and died in the Tower of London. The castle was finally reacquired by the de Carew family in 1607. Carew Castle was fortified by Royalists in the Civil War, changing hands three times until finally returned to the Carews with the Restoration.
Ghost Knight and the Ape
Carew Castle has one
of the more curious ghost stories of Wales castles. No “White Lady” here, but the ghost of a Gorilla wanders
the stones of Carew Castle. The castle's lord, Sir Roland Rhys in the
1700s, was said to have kept an ape captured from a shipwreck on the
Pembrokeshire coast in one of the towers, chained up for the entertainment
of guests. One dark and stormy night a Flemish tradesman accused Sir
Roland’s son of raping his daughter. The druken angry lord is alleged
to have unchained the ape and goaded it with a burning taper to attack
and maul the accuser. The tradesman escaped the attack of the animal,
who subsequently turned on his tormentor, and in the struggle the tower
was set on fire, consuming them. Both Sir Roland and his ape are said
to still haunt the tower ruin.
Tidal Mill
The Tidal
Mill at Carew is the only remaining intact mill of its kind in Wales,
opererated by the flow of the tides, and one of only four in
Britain. The mill is a good stroll from the castle at the end of a narrow
drive from the parking area. A mill was first documented at the site
1542. The present mill building dates from 1801, sometimes called a “French
Mill”. The works and gears inside are still intact, though no longer
working. One of the mechanisms is in collasped pieces while another is
pretty much in the form it was while operation. The view of the castle
from the mill across the tidal pond in one of its most photogenic. The
mill can be visited with a separate admission from the castle, or combined.
The grounds of Carew Castle feature a picnic area and one mile circular
walking path for all around views.
Carew Celtic Cross
At the roadside
just inside the grounds, once guarding the entrance to the castle is
a magnicent 10 foot tall Celtic High Cross, one of the
largest in Wales, dating from around 11th Century. Its mixture of Celtic
and Scandinavian influences harken back to pre-Norman Wales, when the
country was ruled by powerful, independent princes. The cross is inlaid
with intricate knot-work and interlaced ribbon patterns of both Celtic
and Scandinavian influence. An inscription in old Welsh on the cross
dedicates it to Maredudd ap Edwin, who became joint ruler with his brother
of the kingdom of Duheubarth (Southwest Wales) in 1033. His rule only
lasted two years, when he was killed in battle. © Bargain
Travel Europe
Compare hotel and travel deals in Tenby on TripAdvisor
Web Info
Visit Wales
These articles are copyrighted and the sole property of Bargain Travel Europe and WLPV, LLC. and may not be copied or reprinted without permission.
SEE ALSO:
CAERPHILLY
CASTLE
DINEFWR CASTLE PARK AND NEWTON HOUSE
ST DAVID’S BISHOP’S PALACE AND CATHEDRAL
