CASTLE

PROGRAMME 3: EDWARD I AND HIS WELSH CASTLES

PROGRAMME OUTLINE

00.00 – 04.26

Marc Morris looks back at the stone keeps featured in Programme 2 to compare them with the new curtain-wall castles of the 13th century. We are introduced to the conquest of Wales by Edward I and find out about his character. Spectacular images of the Edwardian castles of North Wales illustrate just how incredible these fortress palaces are.

04.27 – 09.11

We are given an account of the conflict between the Welsh and English in the 13th century and the battle for supremacy between Edward and the Welsh leader – Llewellyn ap Gruffudd. Caerphilly Castle in South Wales was the first concentric-wall design castle in Wales and a major cause of the Welsh uprising.

09.12 – 12.15

Rhuddlan Castle was the next of Edward's great Welsh castles to be built and we learn about its defensive features, such as the courtyard design, high thick walls, round towers and enormous gate houses. Marc also explores how the River Clwyd was straightened, a major engineering feat to speed up the arrival of ships to the castle.

12.16 – 17.23

The Welsh backlash and rebellion against English government is described, culminating in Llewellyn being killed and Edward starting on the building of three more great castles at Harlech, Conwy and – the biggest of all – Caernarfon. We learn why these sites were chosen.

17.24 – 21.35

We hear how much a castle such as Caernarfon would have cost to build and how determined Edward must have been.

21.36 – 24.45

The practicalities of castle-building on a grand scale in medieval times are explored. For example, contemporary tools are used to show how huge stones were cut and we see a working 'treadmill crane'.

24.46 – 32.55

Marc takes us through a mystery. For hundreds of years only the name of the architect of the great Welsh castles was known. Marc travels to Savoy to find castles with remarkably similar features to those in Wales and reveals the identity of the great castle designer.

32.56 – 33.35

We are given a tour around the living quarters at Conwy Castle, which would have been the height of luxury.

33.36 – 38.14

Marc shows us the major defensive features of Caernarfon Castle and we see just how sophisticated it was. We also learn that the appearance and location of this castle was inspired by an ancient Welsh tale.

38.15 – 43.51

The 1294 Welsh rebellion and attack on all Edward's Welsh castles is featured in this section. Conwy Castle's position by the sea was the main reason why Edward's troops survived the harsh winter there, but they had many problems.

43.52 – 46.49

Marc visits Beaumaris Castle on Ynys Môn (Anglesea), the last of the great castles built by Edward in North Wales.

46.50 – 48.20

Marc looks forward to the next era in castle building, when they would become homes rather than fortresses.