ca03711-dolbadarn castle.jpg

Dolbadarn Castle was built by Llywelyn Fawr in the 13th century to protect the Snowdonia heartland. There may have been an earlier castle going back to the dark ages, but the surviving architecture all dates from Llewelyns time. The main tower was originally much higher and probably supported wooden hoarding which was a fighting platform which encircled the top of the tower. In 1283 the castle was taken by the forces of Edward I and soon after was partly dismantled to provide building materials for Caernarfon Castle.This image can also be seen in my book, North Wales from the Air