Caerphilly Castle

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caerphilly-castle

Caerphilly Castle was built by Gilbert de Clare (1243 - 1295) to control Glamorgan and halt the territorial expansion of Llewelyn ap Gruffudd (1223-1282). De Clare’s wife Alice of Angouleme (The Green Lady of Caerphilly) is said to haunt the castle, having died of a broken heart after de Clare killed her lover Gruffudd the Fair. Her green robes mock her husband’s envy. The Gwrach y Rhibyn, a banshee with black eyes, talons and leathery wings, reputedly haunts the marshy ground around the castle, wailing in the mist. Other tales from the county include The Cuckoos of Risca - the nickname for Risca townspeople. They believed that cuckoos brought sunshine and, craving fine weather throughout the year, grew high hedges but failed to trap any cuckoos. The Curse of Pantannas to the north of Caerphilly tells of the Fairy King cursing Pantannas Farm after its farmer tried to evict some fairies. Madoc, the farmer’s grandson, was enticed to a cave by eerie music a few weeks before his wedding. Re-emerging from the cave, he learned he had been away 100 years and the shock turned him to dust.

Painting - copyright Pete Fowler / Literature Wales
Written piece - copyright Patrick Jones / Pete Fowler / Literature Wales

Caerphilly Castle

  • Caerphilly Castle was built by Gilbert de Clare (1243 - 1295) to control Glamorgan and halt the territorial expansion of Llewelyn ap Gruffudd (1223-1282). De Clare’s wife Alice of Angouleme (The Green Lady of Caerphilly) is said to haunt the castle, having died of a broken heart after de Clare killed her lover Gruffudd the Fair. Her green robes mock her husband’s envy. The Gwrach y Rhibyn, a banshee with black eyes, talons and leathery wings, reputedly haunts the marshy ground around the castle, wailing in the mist. Other tales from the county include The Cuckoos of Risca - the nickname for Risca townspeople. They believed that cuckoos brought sunshine and, craving fine weather throughout the year, grew high hedges but failed to trap any cuckoos. The Curse of Pantannas to the north of Caerphilly tells of the Fairy King cursing Pantannas Farm after its farmer tried to evict some fairies. Madoc, the farmer’s grandson, was enticed to a cave by eerie music a few weeks before his wedding. Re-emerging from the cave, he learned he had been away 100 years and the shock turned him to dust.

    Painting - copyright Pete Fowler / Literature Wales
    Written piece - copyright Patrick Jones / Pete Fowler / Literature Wales

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