Flint Castle Ruins

What is it? 

Flint Castle was one of the first castles to be built in Wales by King Edward I 

Where is it? 

Castle Rd, Flint CH6 5PE 

What’s there? 

Today, just ruins remain of the castle. The site is free to access and is owned by Cadw. 

Facts - 

▪ The castle’s construction began in 1277. The fortified new town of Flint was also built and eventually became Flintshire’s administrative centre 

▪ The castle’s construction lost momentum after Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, the Prince of Wales, signed a treaty with Edward in November 1277, but picked up again after the Welsh began a revolt in March 1282 which included attacks on Flint castle and town 

▪ King Richard II was brought to the castle in August 1399 after his abduction near Colwyn Bay. Here he met Henry Bolingbroke, who became King Henry IV when Richard was dethroned in September. Richard died a few months later. The meeting features in Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of King Richard the Second 

▪ Royalists used the castle in the Civil War but surrendered it to the Parliamentarians in 1646. After the war the castle was damaged to prevent future defensive use. The ruins were used a prison on and off up until the late 1800’s. 

▪ The site saw further use before and during the First World War. In 1910 the War Office approved the castle’s purchase by the Flintshire Territorial Association, for the 5th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers to move its headquarters here from Hawarden.