Hawarden Castle is located on the grounds of the stately home of W. E. Gladstone, former British Prime Minister. The site of the remains of the castle has a long history that dates to at least the Iron Age. The present stone castle is in the shape of a round keep resting on a Norman motte. The history is vague, but it is thought that the present castle might have been built in the thirteenth century.

The keep is an imposing structure, some forty feet tall and octagonal in shape. It is thought that it was originally two stories high and contained a chapel. It was defended by a curtain wall circling the castle.

A close scrutiny of the castle reveals that it has had a remarkable history. You can almost see the battle scars on its exterior. In fact, it played a significant role in the battles for Welsh independence in 1282 as well as the Civil War in the 1600’s. It is an important part of Welsh history.

The castle is on private land and is closed to the public. We were able to take our pictures of the castle after befriending a local apple orchard farmer and walking through his land to get as close to the castle as possible.