Question #10

"I began life as an earth and timber castle and I am mentioned by none other than Gerald of Wales who paid a visit to my walls in 1188. In 1220 I withstood an attack by Llywelyn the Great and was later owned to such famous people as Queen Eleanor (wife of Edward I) and the Black Prince! You'll have a cow when you hear what happened to me during the Civil War. What castle am I and can you explain my clues?"

Yes, the correct answer is HAVERFORDWEST CASTLE!

Haverfordwest was an English foundation in western Wales. Today the castle sits high on a hill overlooking this busy market town. Originally an earth and timber castle, Haverfordwest was visited by Gerald of Wales and Archbishop Baldwin in 1188 during their trip through Wales recruiting for the Crusades.

Llywelyn the Great attacked the town and castle during his campaign through southern Wales in 1220, and, although he managed to burn the town he was unable to take the castle. Haverfordwest was later granted to Queen Eleanor, after which great sums were spent on updating the castle, which was later owned by the Black Prince.

History "alleges" that in 1644 during the English Civil War, nervous Royalists abandoned the castle, mistaking a herd of cows on a nearby hill for a Parliamentary army, thus allowing it to fall to Parliament without any resistance! It was later recaptured and held for the king for a year, but finally surrendered after the battle of Colby Moor, just to the west.