Wiston Castle

Overview

Wiston Castle is a remarkably well-preserved Norman motte-and-bailey castle located near the village of Wiston in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Built in the 12th century by a Flemish knight, it is one of the best surviving examples of its type in Wales. The castle occupies a commanding position overlooking the surrounding countryside, with its steep motte and encircling ditch still clearly visible today. It is now a Scheduled Monument managed by Cadw.

Early history

The castle was founded shortly after 1112 by Wizo the Fleming, who settled in Pembrokeshire following the Norman conquest of south-west Wales. Granted lands by Henry I, Wizo built his stronghold at Wiston (derived from Wizo’s tun, meaning “Wizo’s settlement”), establishing both a castle and a small borough nearby. The site played an important role in securing Norman control of this part of the March of Wales—the contested frontier between Norman settlers and native Welsh rulers.

Building and layout

Wiston Castle was constructed in the classic Norman motte-and-bailey style. The motte—a large conical mound—was surrounded by a deep ditch and supported a timber, and later stone, tower. The adjoining bailey, enclosed by a palisade, contained domestic and service buildings. The elevated motte provided commanding views across the lands of the former Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth, while the bailey served as the administrative heart of the small Norman settlement that developed around it.

Later history and decline

In 1147 the castle was captured and destroyed by the Welsh under Hywel ab Owain, though it was soon repaired. It changed hands several times during the medieval conflicts that characterised Pembrokeshire’s frontier zone. By the late Middle Ages, the site had lost its strategic value, and the borough of Wiston declined. The castle eventually fell into ruin but remained an impressive landmark, admired by antiquarians from the 18th century onward for the completeness of its earthworks.

Present condition

Today, Wiston Castle is one of the most complete motte-and-bailey sites in Wales. The steep motte rises around nine metres high, surrounded by a well-defined ditch and bailey enclosure. Fragments of the later stone shell keep remain on the summit. The site is freely accessible to the public under the care of Cadw, offering striking views and a vivid sense of early Norman frontier life in Pembrokeshire. Its preservation makes it a key example of 12th-century castle-building in the Welsh Marches.