Question #16

"Historians feel that my site was probably fortified long before the age of the castle, however no traces of this settlement can be found today. Although some considered me a minor castle, I earned my place in history by holding out for over two weeks against an intense siege. I enjoyed some measure of revenge when I crushed to death about 100 men who were seeking to bring down my walls during the siege. What castle am I, and can you explain my clues?"

Yes, the correct answer is DRYSLWYN CASTLE!

Dryslwyn Castle, about 5 miles west of Llandelio in Carmarthenshire, was probably built in the mid-13th century by the native princes of Deheubarth, although there is evidence that the site was fortified as long ago as the Iron Age. The castle is strategically sited high on a rocky crag commanding the valley below.

Although Dryslwyn was not the largest or most notable of the native prince castles, it withstood a remarkable siege in 1287 when prince Rhys ap Maredudd revolted against Edward I. Edward responded by sending a force of 11,000 men led by the earl of Cornwall to take the castle. The earl's forces included experienced "sappers" to undermine the castle walls, and the dreaded trebuchet, a massive stone-throwing machine quite capable of bringing down castle walls.

Remarkably, Dryslwyn withstood this intense siege for a little over two weeks, but finally fell. In an ironic twist of fate, about 100 men, including the earl of Cornwall himself, were killed when one of the mines dug to bring down the castle the castle suddenly collapsed. After the siege, Dryslwyn reverted to the Crown and was finally abandoned in the 15th century.