Rhuddlan may not be as well known as some of the other Castles in North Wales, but it shares much in common with its neighbours. Like Caernarfon and Conwy, it was built as one of the ‘iron ring’ of fortresses by Edward I in his campaign against the Welsh.

Rhuddlan’s huge twin-towered Gatehouse immediately catches the eye. The west Gatehouse at Rhuddlan is possibly the most impressive engineering achievement by the castle builders and can be seen alongside the fortress. Remains of a defended river gate still exist in the outer ring of walls, overlooked by the towers of the powerful diamond-shaped inner ward.

In 1284, Rhuddlan castle played a seminal role in the history of Welsh/English relations when the Statute of Rhuddlan was issued from here, a settlement that lasted until the Act of Union in 1536. Edward’s fortress stands close to another castle, the earlier Norman stronghold known as Twthill, marked by a prominent mound.