Scheduled MonumentsWalesChepstow Castle
Medieval · Castle

Chepstow Castle

Wales
Cadw SAM MM003
Period
Medieval
Site type
Castle
Broad class
Defence
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Chepstow Castle is a Norman fortress founded by William FitzOsbern in 1067, shortly after the Norman Conquest, commanding the crossing of the River Wye between England and Wales. The castle is dominated by its great rectangular keep, the Great Tower, which represents one of the finest examples of late eleventh-century military architecture in Britain, with substantial stone walls rising from a rock outcrop above the river. The castle underwent significant expansion and modification during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, with the addition of multiple baileys and curtain walls that extended its defences across the headland. Chepstow remained strategically important throughout the medieval period as a key stronghold controlling access into Wales, and its substantial surviving masonry, including sections of the curtain wall and multiple towers, demonstrates the sustained military investment in the site across several centuries.

Chepstow Castle is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference MM003. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Chepstow Castle?

Chepstow Castle is a Norman fortress founded by William FitzOsbern in 1067, shortly after the Norman Conquest, commanding the crossing of the River Wye between England and Wales. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference MM003.

What period does Chepstow Castle date from?

Chepstow Castle dates from the medieval period, and is classified as a castle. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.

Who is responsible for protecting Chepstow Castle?

Chepstow Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is MM003.

What other scheduled monuments are near Chepstow Castle?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Crick Moated Site (5.8 km), Crick Medieval House (5.8 km), Heston Brake Long Barrow (6.2 km).

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