Chepstow Castle & Town

Monmouthshire, Wales                                                                             All photos by Hetty

12th November 2022

A visit to Chepstow Castle

 

Roman tiles taken from Caerwent Roman Town

In town

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10th August 2021 – A good day to meet up with family

Chepstow Castle (more photos from a previous visit below)

Tho old bridge over the River Wye to Gloucestershire

The Boat Inn has lots of tables by the river and good flower displays

  

 

Flags across the street and the naked boatman

 

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20th March 2015 – first day of Spring.

After seeing the eclipse of the sun, it was a lovely sunny day, so we drove via Gloucester to Chepstow. We returned via the old Severn Bridge.

Chepstow Castle was built on a narrow ridge above the River Wye, from the 11th to 17th century. It was started in 1067 for William Fitzosborn, a cousin to William the Conqueror, and is the oldest stone fortification in Britain.

Information from Cadw

The Marten Tower 1270 to 1300, and Gatehouse 11891 copy

The oldest castle doors in Europe, 800 years old, made of wood, with a small door inset.2 copyThe Great Hall, in the lower part of the castle3 copy

The Norman Keep, 11th century, in the centre of the castle, on a high cliff.

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Doorway to the Keep7 copy

Inside the keep – the grand windows were added later, only on the river side.

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9 copyLooking back at the lower castle10 copy

The upper part of the castle11 copy

The walls are very thick12 copyThe upper gatehouse13 copy

Looking down the side by The Dell

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Looking down to the lower castle

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You can climb the Marten Tower17 copy

The chapel, in the tower18 copyLooking down on the Great Hall and the 17th century additons

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Then we walked up The Dell to the town, with the castle above us

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The four-sided stone seat for Queen Victoria’s Jubilee24 copy

The Town Gate – originated in the late 13th century and used to have a portcullis25 copy

On the other side, inside the town walls, is the Gatehouse

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The doorway on the left is dated 160927 copy

The Portwall – 2/3 of the old town walls still stand (late 13th century)S1055491 copy

St Mary’s Church (former priory) retains its Norman doorway (late 11th century)

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Inside is the Worcester Tomb. Henry, died in 1549, with his second wife Elizabeth.

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The tomb of Margaret Cleyton, with her two husbands and 12 children, 1620S1055499 copy

High and dry, by the river Wye

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This marks the beginning of the Offa’s Dyke Path, as well as the Wales Coast Path – you can walk all the way around the Welsh Border. It has a map of Wales on it.S1055501 copy

Bridge St, with 15 bow-windows (1805-1823)S1055502 copy

Powis Almshouses, 1721

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Montague Almshouses, 17th centuryS1055504 copy

A mediaeval window in a side alleyS1055506 copy

Nearby – Tintern Abbey

All images on the website copyright of HettyHikes.co.uk

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