Gower Castles
Gower is home to numerous small castles, some very visible, some hard to find. (Climb Landimore hill and you will find a virtually unknown little castle.)
Weobley Castle
One of the closest to Bryngwyn is Weobley castle, also home to a mountain boarding range. Work began on the current structure of Weobley castle in the fourteenth century, and much of it is still remains. During a visit to the castle be sure to check out the exhibition: Weobley: A Gower Castle and the Peninsula through the Ages, which tells the story of the castle.
Castle Builder
Several of the castles in Gower are thought to have been started by Henry de Beaumont, who had been made first Earl of Warwick by his friend Robert the Conquerer for his role in supressing the rebellion of 1088. It was Henry de Beaumont who captured the Gower peninsula for England, and who was granted the Lordship of Gower in 1107. Some sources say that Henry built the castles at Oystermouth, Swansea and Llanhridian and possibly Pennard Castle (listed below).
Pennard Castle
Pennard castle, situated on the top of Pennard Hill overlooking the valley leading to Three Cliffs Bay, is perhaps one of the most stunning of Gower's Castles, offering stupendous views of the countryside around. It is thought to have been built by Henry de Beaumont, in the twelth century with a bank and a ditch and later rebuilt with local stone. The castle was abandoned by the end of the fourteenth century due to erosion.
Image by Bouldering Monkee.
Oystermouth Castle
This is a superb Gower castle set in a small park in the Mumbles, and, for a while, was the seat of the Gower Lords. Built in the Twelth Century, what was originally a wooden castle endured a violent early history, twice being burnt by the Welsh. Some sources say it was founded by Henry de Beautmont, others by William de Londres of Ogmore Castle.