Woolly says – The transformation in the weather from yesterday was extreme, as we got into the car there was blue sky above and fluffy white clouds, sadly by the time we were halfway down the A55 the clouds were grey and I could smell rain in the air. Regardless of the elements nothing was going to spoil my day. As we pulled into Beaumaris the rain seemed to be holding off which allowed me to look in glee at the pretty little town. Beaumaris was originally a Viking settlement known as Porth y Wygyr (“Port of the Vikings”), but the town itself began its development in 1295 when Edward I of England, having conquered Wales, commissioned the building of Beaumaris Castle as part of a chain of fortifications around the North Wales coast (others include Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech).
Today it is a quaint seaside resort with colourful houses and some lovely small independent shops. We had arrived early for our timed entry into the castle so took the opportunity to walk along the front and through the main street where one of Britain’s oldest houses still surviving from the early 1400’s.
Arriving at the castle at our pre booked time I was eager to get in and so was Alfie the Dog who was about to visit his first castle, I just hoped he stopped panting long enough to appreciate its beauty.
Known at the ‘Never completed Castle’ it was started by Edward in 1284, but this was delayed due to lack of funds and work only began in 1295 following the Madog ap Llywelyn uprising. A substantial workforce was employed in the initial years under the direction of James of St George a famous mason of the time. Edward’s invasion of Scotland soon diverted funding from the project, however, and work stopped, only recommencing after an invasion scare in 1306. When work finally ceased around 1330 a total of £15,000 had been spent, a huge sum for the period, but the castle remained incomplete.
Beaumaris Castle was taken by Welsh forces in 1403 during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr, but recaptured by royal forces in 1405. Following the outbreak of the English Civil War in 1642, the castle was held by forces loyal to Charles I, holding out until 1646 when it surrendered to the Parliamentary armies. By 1660 it had fallen into ruin and eventually formed part of a stately home and park in the 19th century.
It was wonderful, a proper castle with a moat included, what more could a mammoth want. As we walked through the main entrance its many towers were everywhere.
Wandering in and out of each one that was open to see the windows and fireplaces still in place, originally the design had meant for it to be a further two stories high but I loved it just as it was.
A rather fetching sculpture of James St George graced one corner and while I raced up and down steps and in and out of the towers even Alfie the dog seemed interested in all that was to be seen.
It all seemed to be over way to quickly and as we took one last look at the beauty of its construction, we all agreed it was a fine piece of work.
A proper fairy tale type of castle and in such a lovely setting, you can only wonder how magnificent it would have been if they had completed it.
Woolly says – Having left the panting animal to have a rest Jo and I headed into Beaumaris Gaol. The jail was designed by Hansom and Welch, and was built in 1829 before being expanded in 1867 to accommodate approximately 30 inmates but was closed just 11 years later. The building then became a police station until the 1950s when it became a children’s clinic and lastly a museum in 1974. A lovely lady Gaoler called Jane welcomed us in and was delighted to meet me, the affect I have one some is wonderful, having taken us to the stocks for a picture opportunity she then pointed us in the right direction and our visit began.
The laundry area was small as was the men’s work room where ropes, mats, brushes and sacks would have been made on a daily basis. Prisoners who didn’t finish their daily quota would have gone to bed with empty tummies, not a nice thought.
The drunks cell made me chuckle as I could see a few humans I knew spending a lot of time in there, this had been used when the prison turned into a police station. As we headed up some steep steps, I was delighted to find a toilet, my bestie Sion would have been delighted with the wooden box and as I posed for a quick snap before diminishing my business and following Jo into the hospital area. Disease was rife in those days and little could be done as things such as penicillin were still a way off from being discovered. As the gaol had housed both men and women a few babies had been born in there, in 1868 Bridget Reilly had given birth in what had proved to be a difficult birth taking two days of the midwives time, this meant the Prison Governor received a bill for 46 pints of ale, bet he wasn’t too pleased.
The cells were small with hammocks or bunks being the norm, each one had a small sink and a toilet so quite luxurious for those times. But nothing in comparison the Governors room and office with its fine bed and comfy chairs.
The condemned cell was eerie and I could imagine the condemned man talking his last walk to the gibbet, only two men were hung in the gaols time span and one of those went to the noose pleading his innocence.
My small companion shied away from the big brown bath and instead found another toilet to contemplate! The kitchen was tiny and bearing in mind the numbers being fed it must have been a mission to get the gruel out on time.
Woolly says – As we walked through the chapel and into the outside area, I was quite alarmed to find a flogging room and quickly walked past before a certain someone got any ideas! Next to it was the treadmill which prisoners would have worked day after day to provide water for the whole place, if being locked up wasn’t back enough having to spend your time on a treadmill must have made it even worse. A further privy to inspect and our tour was complete, a great place and so well preserved I’m just glad I’m not spending the night there!
I’m sure it can be arranged!
Woolly says – Ignoring the women I plodded back to the car well satisfied with my day, Beaumaris had been a little jewel and well worth our time.