Swansea Castle

 

This month I am looking at places of local interest, and some objects that have been discovered; we will begin with Swansea Castle.

Many artists have incorporated Swansea Castle into their work; last month’s front cover of Bay was an illustration by our very own illustrator and designer, Simon Williams.

The “New” Castle, or what is left of it, was built between 1221 and 1284. Talk about taking their time with the building work! This castle replaced the original wooden one which had been in existence since 1116, after Henry de Beaumont was granted the Lordship of Gower in 1106.

During the early years of its existence, the castle was besieged by Rhys ap Gruffydd, in 1192. Finally, in 1217, the castle fell. As part of a settlement between Llywelyn ap Iorwerth and Henry III, the castle was restored to the English during 1220.

It’s during the 14th century in 1326 that Swansea Castle had a connection with Edward II, even though he never visited. However, we have to go back to 1308 to find this connection.

In Boulogne, northern France, on 23rd January 1308 24-year old King Edward II married his 12-year old bride Princess Isabella. Medieval royal weddings were lavish affairs, full of traditional ceremonial objects, including gold, ermine, gifts and feasting. These marriages were often dynastic arrangements between the European royal families rather than love matches. English kings would have a choice of brides from other European countries, which would result in creating a seal or a truce and guaranteeing support from that country.

An 1872 painting by English artist Marcus Stone shows Edward II cavorting with Gaveston at left, while nobles and courtiers look on with concern. PIC: Wikipedia

During the ceremony all the bride and groom had to say was je fais (I do), but instead of kissing his bride, Edward, decided to kiss his best friend Piers Gaveston! Unsurprisingly this irritated Isabella.

18 years later in 1326, Edward was fleeing from his wife Isabella and her lover Roger Mortimer (that wedding day kiss perhaps sealed the fate of this marriage) when he arrived in Neath. During November Edward begged for help from the men of Gower, his Chancery and Exchange were sent on to Swansea Castle, sadly Edward didn’t make it to Swansea, having been captured north of Caerphilly. Edward was imprisoned at Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire and abdicated in January 1327. If the legends surrounding his death are to be believed, he met a rather nasty end in September 1327, when a red-hot poker was inserted where you really wouldn’t want one. Some believe that Isabella arranged for this to happen – a woman scorned indeed.

Edward’s treasures, valuing around £13,000 were plundered by Swansea locals. The perpetrator/s were never identified, but one name that did come to light was Robert de Peres, of Oxwich Castle.

1st November 1901, The Cambrian (right) reports of the Swansea Scientific Society talk entitled “New Light on Gower”, which made special references to Swansea Castle, with the curious discovery of Edward II’s marriage contract to Isabella having been made 70 years earlier, during the 1830s. The contract was donated to the Swansea Museum.

Today, these papers that are now in a fragile state can be found in West Glamorgan Archive Service.

A further discovery was made during conservation works at Oxwich Castle in the 1960s when an exquisite gold ring-brooch, set with rubies and tiny cameos was uncovered. Was this part of Edward’s lost treasures? Today, the brooch (left) known as the Oxwich Brooch, can be found at the National Museum, Cardiff.

Castle Gardens, just across the road from the castle was originally the site of Ben Evans Department Store, which was destroyed during the Three Night Blitz in 1941, and before that it was Plas House.

It was here at Plas House in 1790, that John Wesley aged 80, preached for the last time. It was Wesley’s ninth visit to Swansea and Gower, his first being in 1758. Wesley kept a detailed account of his journeys around the country in his diary. The local Methodist chapels included Sketty, Dillwyn Street, College Street and Great Pitton, Gower.

Nearly a century after Wesley’s death, the Reverend Thomas Cook came to Swansea for a meeting at College Street Chapel. It is this Thomas Cook, who founded the travel agency Thomas Cook & Sons.

During the aforementioned Three Nights Blitz, much of central Swansea was destroyed including the Wesley Chapel in College Street. This scene was depicted by artist Will Evans (above right). Today, on a wall by the former Barons nightclub, there is a memorial to commemorate the Wesley Chapel (left).

Copyright - The Bay Magazine, November 2021