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 » Places » Chepstow Castle - [Castle] (ST 5330 9410)

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Chepstow Castle is situated on the mouth of the river Wye and is a gate-house to the Vale of Wye. Built by William or his son Roger Fitz Osbern on a high cliff overlooking the river the castle was well situated to control movements and as a base for further exploration of Wales. The castle was defended at the back by a natural ravine. In the early 12th century the castle came into the hands of the de Clare family. When Richard 'Strongbow' de Clare died in 1176 he left a daughter Isabel as heiress. Isabel married William Marshal and the castle remained with the Marshal family until 1245 when the last in the Marshal line died. Chepstow then passed on to Roger Bigod, the fourth Earl of Norfolk.

Mini Timeline

1067Chepstow Castle begun
Construction of Chepstow Castle is begun.
1070Building work at Chepstow
William Fitz Osbern built the hall at Chepstow Castle.
1075Chepstow Castle passes to the crown
Roger Fitz Osbern joined an unsuccessful uprising against the king and lost. The castle then passed to the crown.
1189William Marshal and Chepstow Castle
In 1189 William Marshal married Isabel (Isabella), the heiress of Earl Richard de Clare. Isabel's castles passed to William including Pembroke Castle.
1245Bigods take Chepstow Castle
When Maud, the last of the Marshal line, died in 1245 Chepstow Castle was passed to her son Roger Bigod II, Earl of Norfolk.



See Also
  Marshal, William (Earl of Pembroke)
  Fitz Osbern, William (Earl of Hereford)
  Fitz Osbern, Roger (Earl of Hereford)
  Clare, Richard fitzGilbert de (Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke)
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Chepstow Castle

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Selection of references used:
  • Sidney Toy,Catles. Their Construction and History,1985
  • John Kinross,Discovering Castles in England and Wales,
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