Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Swansea Castle
Castle, Swansea, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade I
- Broad class
- Defence
- Date of designation
- 23 April 1952
- Community
- Castle
- Unitary authority
- Swansea
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.62036, -3.94111
- Cadw reference
- 11568
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
In the centre of the city, on the curving W bank of the former course of the River Tawe.
History
Largely dating from C13 and C14, during possession of the de Braose family, reused and built against in post-medieval period.
Exterior
The remains consist of 2 separate blocks, a small square tower (later used as a debtors’ prison) on the N, which may contain the earliest surviving work, and a larger residential block forming the SE angle. The most distinguished feature is the arcaded parapet associated with the work of Henry Gower, Bishop of St David’s (d 1347) in the episcopal palaces at Lamphey and St David’s.
Reason for designation
Scheduled Ancient Monument.
Nearby in the register
- Swansea CastleCastleunder 1 mi
- Castle CinemaRecreationalunder 1 mi
- Midland BankCommercialunder 1 mi
- 6 Wind StreetDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.