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Published March 2025. The Deeds of King Henry V, or in Latin Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.

Available at Amazon as eBook or Paperback.

Rhuddlan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

Rhuddlan Bridge Rhuddlan Friary St Mary's Church Twthill Castle Town Gate West Gatehouse East Gatehouse Inner Ward North Tower South Tower Friary Gate Gillot's Tower Dock aka River Gate Water Gate Unamed Tower Moat

Rhuddlan is in Flintshire, North East Wales.

See: [Map], Rhuddlan Castle [Map], Rhuddlan Friary [Map], St Mary's Church, Rhuddlan [Map], Twthill Castle [Map].

The Welsh Castles and Towns of Edward I comprise a number of castles, some with associated planned towns, commissioned as a means of containing the Welsh. They included, from east to west, Flint Castle [Map], Rhuddlan [Map], Conwy Castle [Map], Beaumaris Castle [Map], Caernarfon Castle [Map], Harlech Castle [Map] and Aberystwyth Castle [Map]. Those not on the coast include Chirk Castle [Map], Denbigh Castle and Town Walls [Map] and Builth Castle [Map]. Arguably, Holt Castle [Map] and Criccieth Castle [Map] should be included.

Around October 1062 King Harold II of England (age 40) was given approval to attack Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales' Court at Rhuddlan [Map]. Gruffydd ap Llywelyn King Wales was nearly captured but managed to escape to sea.

John of Worcester. 1063. When Christmas was over, Harold (age 41), the brave earl of Wessex, by king Edward's (age 60) order, put himself at the head of a small troop of horse, and proceeded by rapid marches from Gloucester, where the king then was, to Rhuddlan [Map], [Flintshire] with the determination to punish Griffyth, king of Wales, for his continual ravages on the English marshes, and his many insults to his lord, king Edward, by taking his life. But Griffyth, being forewarned of the earl's approach, fled with his attendants, and escaped by getting aboard a ship, but not without extreme difficulty. Harold, finding he was gone, ordered his palace to be burnt, and setting fire to his ships and all their rigging, began his march homeward the same day. But about Rogation days [20 May] he sailed from Bristol with a naval force, and circumnavigated a great part of Wales. His brother met him, by the king's command, with a body of cavalry, and uniting their forces, they began to lay waste that part of the country. In consequence, the Welsh were reduced to submission, and, giving hostages, engaged to pay him tribute, and they deposed and banished their king, Griffyth.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1063. This year went Earl Harold (age 41), after mid-winter, from Gloucester to Rhyddlan [Map]; which belonged to Griffin: and that habitation he burned, with his ships and all the rigging belonging thereto; and put him to flight. Then in the gang-days went Harold with his ships from Bristol about Wales; where he made a truce with the people, and they gave him hostages. Tosty (age 37) meanwhile advanced with a land-force against them, and plundered the land. But in the harvest of the same year was King Griffin slain, on the nones of August, by his own men, through the war that he waged with Earl Harold. He was king over all the Welsh nation. And his head was brought to Earl Harold; who sent it to the king (age 60), with his ship's head, and the rigging therewith. King Edward committed the land to his two brothers, Blethgent (age 50) and Rigwatle; who swore oaths, and gave hostages to the king and to the earl, that they would be faithful to him in all things, ready to aid him everywhere by water and land, and would pay him such tribute from the land as was paid long before to other kings.

On 22nd June 1283 Dafydd ap Gruffudd Aberffraw Prince of Wales (age 44) and Owain ap Dafydd Aberffraw (age 8) were captured at Bera Mawr, Bangor. Dafydd, seriously wounded in the struggle, was brought to King Edward's (age 44) camp at Rhuddlan [Map] that same night. Dafydd was taken from there to Chester, Cheshire [Map] and then on to Shrewsbury, Shropshire [Map]. Dafydd and Dafydd's wife Elizabeth de Ferrers (age 43), their daughter Gwladys, infant niece Gwenllian ferch Llywelyn (age 1), and Dafydd's six illegitimate daughters were also taken prisoner at the same time.

Rhuddlan Castle, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

Views of Rhuddlan Castle [Map] showing the canalised River Clywd.

The River Clwyd rises 8km north-west Corwen, Denbighshire [Map] from where it flows past Ruthin Castle [Map], Denbigh [Map], St Asaph [Map] to Rhuddlan Castle [Map], from where the remaining 4km were canalised when the castle wads constructed, entering the Irish Sea at Rhyl [Map].

The Itinerary of Archbishop Baldwin through Wales: Book 2 Chapter 10. Having crossed the river Conwy,162 or rather an arm of the sea, under Deganwy [Map], leaving the Cistercian monastery of Conwy [Map]163 on the western bank of the river to our right hand, we arrived at Ruthlan [Map], a noble castle on the river Cloyd, belonging to David, the eldest son of Owen164 where, at the earnest invitation of David himself, we were handsomely entertained that night.

Note 162. The travellers pursuing their journey along the sea coast, crossed the aestuary of the river Conway under Deganwy, a fortress of very remote antiquity.

Note 163. At this period the Cistercian monastery of Conway was in its infancy, for its foundation has been attributed to Llewelyn ap Iorwerth, in the year 1185, (only three years previous to Baldwin's visitation,) who endowed it with very extensive possessions and singular privileges. Like Stratflur, this abbey was the repository of the national records, and the mausoleum of many of its princes.

Note 164. [David was the illegitimate son of Owen Gwynedd, and had dispossessed his brother, Iorwerth Drwyndwn.]

In 1277 Rhuddlan Castle [Map] was commissioned by King Edward I of England (age 37). Work was initially started by Master Betram but was completed by James of St George Master Mason. It was completed in 1282.

In 1282 Rhuddlan Castle [Map] was besieged by the Welsh until relieved by Amadeus V "Great" Savoy (age 32).

On 23rd June 1283 Owain ap Dafydd Aberffraw (age 8) was imprisoned at Rhuddlan Castle [Map].

Archaeologia Volume 16 Section VIII. Copy of a Roll of the Expenses of King Edward the First at Rhuddlan Castle [Map], in Wales, in the tenth and eleventh years of his reign [1281-1282], remaining among the Records in the Tower, communicated by Samuel Lysons, Esq. F. R. S. Director: with a Translation, by the Rev. John Brand, M. A. Secretary. Read Nov. 27, 1806.

Archaeologia Volume 20 Section 1. Northumberland now made his people hasten straight from that place to Rhuddlan [Map], where he found a toilsome and heavy road: many a mountain and great rock are between them. He got over it as fairly and as well as he could, and mightily rejoiced he was. He sent to the castellan,i who was an old knight, commanding him instantly to surrender the fortress in the name of the duke, or he and all who might be taken therein should be hanged without mercy: not for all the wealth of the realm should they escape: doubtless he would make them taste of death, if they gave not up to him the castle and place. At this menace of the earl, the castellan turned pale with fear; for he had long kept the castle and approach in the name of the king. It is very strong, because the sea comes into the fosses, and on the other side it is posted very loftily upon a rock; it's walls are strong and thick, well provided with large towers.k But such was the fear of the old man from morn till night, that, coward like, he gave up the keys to him: although King Richard had gently besought him to keep it, seeing it was well stored with wine and corn; for he had very lately been there, and myself with him. The castellan bargained with the earl to surrender it in the name of Duke Henry, upon condition that he should continue castellan of that place all his life, to which the duke agreed.l

Note i. Whoever the governor of this fortress might be, he does not appear to have been at his post. His office had a peculiar authority attached to it, as by an express provision 10 Rich. II. he was constituted for the time being sheriff of the county. "Constabularius castri de Flint pro tempore existenti debet esse vicecomes comitatus de Flint."1

Note 1. Calend. Rot. Pat. p. 214. I Pat. 10 Ric. II: "The constable of Flint Castle for the time being must be the sheriff of the county of Flint."

Note k. The vestiges of this castle prove it's original strength. The walls are flanked by six round towers, three of which remain tolerably entire. The ditch is wide and deep, and on both sides faced with stone. The steep escarpment towards the river was defended with walls, in which were square bastions; one of them is still standing.1 The Welsh antiquaries state that it was erected before the Norman Conquest by Llewellyn ap Sitsylt, who reigned over North Wales from 1015 to 1020: " Ruthlanae castrum primo conditum est a Leolino, Sisilii filio, Cambriae principe; fuitque non solum ipsius Leolini verumetiam Gruffini filii sui praecipuum palatium."2 Harold burnt it in 1063,3 and it was restored by William the Conqueror or Henry II.4

Note 1. Evans, Topographical and Historical Description of N. Wales, p. 756.

Note 2. Powel, Annot. in Silv. Giraldi Itin. Cambr. c. 10. n. 2.

Note 3. Orderic. Vital, in Dugdale, Baronage, I. p. 36.

Note 4. Powel, ut su

Note l. That the agreement was kept seems confirmed by the grant of the constableship of the several castles of Chester, Flint, Conway, and Caernarvon, all upon the same line, to the Earl of Northumberland, in 1 Henry IV.5 Rhuddlan, which forms a link in the chain, is omitted in the list; and I therefore conclude that the old castellan retained it.

Note 5. Dugdale, Baronage, I. p. 278.

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Rhuddlan Castle Plan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles

Town Gate, Rhuddlan Castle Plan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

West Gatehouse, Rhuddlan Castle Plan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

West Gatehouse [Map]. The missing masonary suggest the upper part of the front wall now gone. View of the inside of the guarderobe.

East Gatehouse, Rhuddlan Castle Plan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

East Gatehouse [Map].

Inner Ward, Rhuddlan Castle Plan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

Inner Ward [Map] and the outside of the Curtain Wall, with it exterior base projection and the drainage slots.

North Tower, Rhuddlan Castle Plan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

North Tower [Map].

South Tower, Rhuddlan Castle Plan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

View of the South Tower [Map]. Note the guarderobe projecting off the wall.

The remains of the Friary Gate [Map] with the South Tower [Map] beyond.

Friary Gate, Rhuddlan Castle Plan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

The remains of the Friary Gate [Map] with the South Tower [Map] beyond.

Gillot's Tower, Rhuddlan Castle Plan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

Gillot's Tower [Map] over-looking the Dock Gate [Map]. Gillot's Tower is probably named after Gillot de Chalons, a mason who was working at Conwy in 1286 and had been previously employed at Rhuddlan. Four storeys high and projecting from the southern corner of the outer ward, the original entrance was on the third storey. The two windows in this room are almost the only ones in the building which retain their dressed stonework intact.

Dock aka River Gate, Rhuddlan Castle Plan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

Dock aka River Gate [Map].

Unamed Tower, Rhuddlan Castle Plan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

Unamed Tower [Map].

Moat, Rhuddlan Castle Plan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles

Section of the moat showing detail of the outer wall with its arrow loops.

Detail of one of the Tower that provided access to the Moat from the Outer Ward.

Detail of the Moat nearest to the Town Gate [Map] with what appear to be drainage openings.

Moat.

Rhuddlan Friary, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

1258. Rhuddlan Friary [Map] was founded by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. It was dissolved in 1538. The former friary is now a farm.

On 5th January 1268 Bishop Ainan II, Prior of Rhuddlan Friary [Map], was elected Bishop of St Asaph.

In 1291 Eleanor of Castile Queen Consort England gave 100s to Rhuddlan Friary [Map] and to each of the other four Dominican houses in Wales.

In 1370 Bishop Gervase de Castro left sixty shillings to the friars of Rhuddlan Friary [Map].

In 1373 Llewelyn ap Madoc, bishop of St Asaph, bequeathed twenty shillings to Rhuddlan Friary [Map].

Flintshire Historical Society V5 1914. 1742. Ruins of the Domincan Friary [Map], Rhuddlan. Drawn and Engaved by S & N Buck, 1742.

Archaeologia Cambrensis 1887 Page 349. Proceeding from the Castle a distance of about 300 yards, to the south, Twt Hill [Map], the site of the earlier castle built by Llywelyn ap Sitsyllt, King of Gwynedd c. 1015, was passed; and a little further on are the remains of the Dominican Priory [Map], now called the Abbey. Here, again, under the same guidance, were seen the windows of the monks' dormitory, above the present barn; and built up into the Avails, a large monumental slab with an incised effigy of an Archbishop of Rages, a former brother of the house. Near it was a cross ragule, memorial to "De Bridelton' cuius a'ie p'piciet." Other floriated crosses lie near the front door of the farmhouse, whilst in the garden wall are portions of window-tracery. There is a much damaged effigy of a knight in the wall of the stable; and behind the buildings on the opposite side of the yard (the western) may be seen several Pointed windows that show that portion to have been a part of the old monastic building. The property now belongs to Sir W. G. Williams, Bart (age 42)., of Bodelwyddan, and it is much to be desired that these interesting relics should be more carefully protected. The lateness of the hour and the shades of evening rendered it too dark to see the church, and it had reluctantly to be omitted for the day.

St Mary's Church, Rhuddlan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

St Mary's Church, Rhuddlan [Map].

Wales Illustrated North Wales. Rhuddlan Bridge, Church [Map] and Castle [Map].

Twthill Castle, Rhuddlan, Flintshire, North East Wales, British Isles [Map]

In 1073 Robert of Rhuddlan commissioned the construction of Twthill Castle [Map]. A borough became established beside the castle and by 1086, eighteen burgesses lived there; the buildings included a church and a mint.

Archaeologia Cambrensis 1887 Page 349. Proceeding from the Castle a distance of about 300 yards, to the south, Twt Hill [Map], the site of the earlier castle built by Llywelyn ap Sitsyllt, King of Gwynedd c. 1015, was passed; and a little further on are the remains of the Dominican Priory [Map], now called the Abbey. Here, again, under the same guidance, were seen the windows of the monks' dormitory, above the present barn; and built up into the Avails, a large monumental slab with an incised effigy of an Archbishop of Rages, a former brother of the house. Near it was a cross ragule, memorial to "De Bridelton' cuius a'ie p'piciet." Other floriated crosses lie near the front door of the farmhouse, whilst in the garden wall are portions of window-tracery. There is a much damaged effigy of a knight in the wall of the stable; and behind the buildings on the opposite side of the yard (the western) may be seen several Pointed windows that show that portion to have been a part of the old monastic building. The property now belongs to Sir W. G. Williams, Bart (age 42)., of Bodelwyddan, and it is much to be desired that these interesting relics should be more carefully protected. The lateness of the hour and the shades of evening rendered it too dark to see the church, and it had reluctantly to be omitted for the day.