Criccieth Castle is a ruined thirteenth-century castle in Criccieth, Gwynedd, Wales. It is located on a rocky headland overlooking Tremadog Bay and consists of an inner ward almost surrounded by an outer ward. The twin-towered inner gatehouse is the most prominent remaining feature and survives to almost its full height, as does the inner curtain wall. The outer curtain wall, the inner ward buildings, and the castle's other three towers are significantly more ruinous, and in places survive only as foundations.
An image of "Criciaeth Castle" from the 1781 edition of Thomas Pennant's A Tour in Wales, which chronicles the three journeys he made through Wales between 1773 and 1776.
An engraving of "Crickieth Castle" made from Turner's watercolour.
Llywelyn ab Iorwerth (left), who began building the castle, with his sons Gruffudd (centre) and Dafydd (right)
The inner gatehouse of Beeston Castle, Cheshire.
Criccieth is a town and community in Gwynedd, Wales, on the boundary between the Llŷn Peninsula and Eifionydd. The town is 5 miles (8 km) west of Porthmadog, 9 miles (14 km) east of Pwllheli and 17 miles (27 km) south of Caernarfon. It had a population of 1,826 in 2001, reducing to 1,753 at the 2011 census.
The ruins of Criccieth Castle dominate the town
Criccieth Castle, c.1778
Llywelyn ab Iorwerth, who built Criccieth Castle around 1230, with his sons
In 1282 Criccieth Castle became part of a ring of castles surrounding Edward I's newly conquered territories in Wales.
