Scheduled MonumentsWalesSwansea Castle
Medieval · Castle

Swansea Castle

Wales
Cadw SAM GM012
Period
Medieval
Site type
Castle
Broad class
Defence
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Swansea Castle is a Norman castle founded in the early twelfth century as part of the Anglo-Norman conquest of Glamorgan, likely established by Henry de Beaumont, first Earl of Warwick, around 1106. The castle occupies a strategic position overlooking the River Tawe and Swansea Bay, and originally comprised a substantial stone keep set within defensive earthworks and palisades. The surviving remains consist primarily of the fragmentary ruins of the Norman keep, which once rose as a formidable rectangular structure dominating the settlement below. The castle served as an important administrative centre and stronghold for the Anglo-Norman lordship of Gower throughout the medieval period, though it was damaged during Welsh uprisings and fell into decline after the fourteenth century.

Swansea Castle is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference GM012. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Swansea Castle?

Swansea Castle is a Norman castle founded in the early twelfth century as part of the Anglo-Norman conquest of Glamorgan, likely established by Henry de Beaumont, first Earl of Warwick, around 1106. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference GM012.

What period does Swansea Castle date from?

Swansea 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 Swansea Castle?

Swansea 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 GM012.

What other scheduled monuments are near Swansea Castle?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Original Swansea Castle (0.1 km), Foxhole River Staithes (1.2 km), White Rock Copper Works (1.7 km).

Aubrey Research

Generate a full report for this location

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in the UK — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.

Research the area around Swansea Castle