Oystermouth Castle, West Glamorgan

Oystermouth Castle (Castell Ystum Llwynarth) is one of the handful of castle ruins to be found in and around the Welsh city of Swansea. Wales is well known for its castles and castle ruins, there being over 400 in the country, and Oystermouth Castle was one constructed in the heyday of castle building.

Building of Oystermouth Castle occurred in c1106AD, a period when the Norman Conquest of England had expanded into Wales, to deal with Welsh raids. Glamorgan had finally fallen to the Normans, under the leadership of Robert Fitzhamon, and land was given over to his favourite supporters. William de Londres was one of these favourites and so, on a hill overlooking Swansea Bay, Oystermouth Castle was built.

Oystermouth Castle - TeleD - CC-zero

Oystermouth Castle, and other castles of the period, were constructed to help subjugate the troublesome Welsh. Several periods of building was undertaken from 1106 through to c1300AD; and the castle had to be rebuilt on at least two occasions, it being burnt down by the Welsh in 1116 and 1137.

Oystermouth Castle was far from an impregnable fortress, as the Welsh took Oystermouth Castle in 1215, and held it for 5 years before it was retaken by the English.

At this point Oystermouth Castle would become a property owned by the De Braose family, and it was they who invested the most money in improving the defences of the castle, and also the living quarters of the building. Edward I would visit the castle in 1284, but subsequently, Oystermouth Castle, would start to lose its importance.

Oystermouth Castle - Jennifer Luther Thomas - CC-BY-SA-2.0

Military endeavours by Edward I, and the building of more powerful castles, did much to contain Welsh rebellions, and when the de Broase family moved their seat of power from Oystermouth Castle, the building started to fall into ruin from about 1300AD.

In 1927, the ruins of Oystermouth Castle were passed over to the Swansea Corporation.

Today, Oystermouth Castle is still owned by the City and County of Swansea, although the running of the castle is undertaken by the “Friends of Oystermouth Castle”. This volunteer group ensures that the castle is open to the public, and so those who travel to the village of Mumbles, and then travel uphill to the village of Oystermouth, can visit the picturesque castle ruins.

Details of opening hours and admission costs are available online.