[844] The Brut says that in the year 823 the Saxons destroyed the Castle of Deganwy. This is one of the only two instances in which the word castell is used in this Welsh chronicle before the coming of the Normans. As the MS. is not earlier than the 14th century it would be idle to claim this as a proof of the existence of a castle at this period. Castell, in Welsh, is believed to have come straight from the Latin, and was applied to any kind of fortress. Lloyd, Welsh Place-names, “Y Cymmrodor,” xi., 28.
[845] The “new castle of Aberconwy” mentioned by the Brut in 1211, undoubtedly means this new stone castle built by the earl at Deganwy, as the castle of Conway did not then exist.
[846] See Pennant, ii., 151; and Arch. Camb., 1891, p. 321.
[847] Brut of Tywysogion, 1145.
[848] Published with a Latin translation in Arch. Camb., 1866. “He built castles in various places, after the manner of the French, in order that he might better hold the country.”
[849] The Brut also mentions the castle of Aberlleinog, and says it was built in 1096; rebuilt would have been more correct, as the “Life of Griffith ap Cynan” shows that it was built by the Earl of Chester, and burnt by Griffith, before the expedition of 1096 (really 1098), when Hugh, Earl of Shrewsbury, met with his death on the shore near this castle, from an arrow shot by King Magnus Barefoot, who came to the help of the Welsh.
[850] Mr Hartshorne in his paper on Carnarvon Castle (Arch. Journ., vii.) cites a document stating that a wall 18 perches long had been begun round the moat [possibly motam; original not given]. He also cites from the Pipe Rolls an item for wages to carriers of earth dug out of the castle.
[851] This ruined wall runs in a straight line through the wood on the ridge to the east of the town; at one place it turns at right angles; at the back of the golf pavilion is a portion still erect, showing that it was a dry built wall of very ordinary character.
[852] Roman masonry has been exposed in the bank of the station.
[853] Life of Griffith ap Cynan; Brut, 1111.