Painscastle Castle

Painscastle: A Brief History

Painscastle was originally built by the Norman lord Pain Fitz-John in the early 12th century. After his death in 1137, the castle was captured and destroyed, beginning centuries of conflict between Welsh and English forces along the borderlands.

Over the next hundred years, the castle was repeatedly attacked, rebuilt, and fought over. One of its most famous moments came in 1195, when Maud de Braose is said to have successfully defended the castle against Welsh attackers. Further sieges followed in 1196 and 1198, before Welsh forces captured the castle in 1215 and destroyed it soon afterwards.

In 1231, King Henry III rebuilt Painscastle in stone, adding a round keep, towers, defensive walls, and a fortified barbican entrance with a drawbridge. Despite these improvements, the castle was attacked again in 1265 during renewed conflict with the Welsh. Rebuilt once more in 1277, it later became part of the Beauchamp estates and was garrisoned during Owain Glyndŵr’s uprising in 1401.

Today, the castle survives mainly as impressive earthworks. Visitors can still see the large motte (castle mound), deep defensive ditches, sections of the bailey, and the remains of the western barbican. The site’s unusual rectangular shape has led historians to believe it may have been built on the remains of an earlier Roman fort, supported by Roman pavements discovered nearby.

Although little stonework remains, Painscastle still tells the story of a fiercely contested border fortress that was rebuilt many times before finally falling into ruin.

Sources: Mike Salter, The Castles of Mid Wales (2001); Paul M. Remfry, The Castles of Radnorshire (1996).