Caerphilly was constructed on a virgin site N of the Caerphilly Ridge and Nant-y-Gledyr, E of Crescent Road, W of Castle Street, and S of Nantgarw Road.
The low outer crenellated curtain wall has semi-circular corner towers, only two in complete condition, and artificial lakes to the N and S. The outer ward contains the kitchen tower and a kitchen annex to the S, and a storehouse located on the E.
The middle ward is accessed via W and E gatehouses, and on the W and E sides of the inner curtain are the two larger gatehouses. The E gatehouse is the tallest and most defensible part of the castle.
The inner ward is marked by the great hall, located against the S wall, with a buttery and pantry through the E doors, the kitchen located to the S, and two large solars extending W from the hall. A chapel was situated above the pantry and buttery.
Now a Cadw site open to the public at select times.
1268 Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Gloucester and Hertford, began construction at Caerphilly.
1270 Building site attacked by Llewelyn the Last.
1270/1 Gilbert de Clare given license to enditch.
1322--6 Great hall and state apartments remodelled and other domestic works carried out for Hugh le Despenser.
1326--7 Castle besieged by Queen Isabella during war with Edward II.
1300s Castle abandoned as a primary residence.
1400s Later owners Richard Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, and Jasper Tudor, 16th Earl of Pembroke, performed some basic maintenance.
Late 1500s Thomas Lewis of The Van was granted permission to use Caerphilly's stone in construction of his house.
1642--8 Though unusable for defensive purposes, SE tower possibly damaged during Civil War.
ca. 1870--1900 John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute restored the great hall and state apartments
ca. 1900 John Crichton-Stuart, 4th Marquess of Bute restored E gatehouse.
1950s Artifical N and S lakes reflooded by Welsh governement in continuing restoration.
| Name | Dates | Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Despenser, Hugh | 1308-1349 | 3rd Baron |
