Carew

The ruins of Carew castle sit on a promontory which juts out into the river Carew which flows to the north, and once allowed sea going vessels to reach the castle on a high tide. The river also formed a natural moat around the castle.

The first historical record of a castle at Carew dates to 1212 when the land was owned by William Fitzgerald, the son of Gerald de Windsor. He adopted the name, Carrio or 'Carew', which was passed onto his descendants. In Welsh, the name translates to Caeriw, and probably derives from caer rhiw, or 'fort on a small hill'.

A descendant of William, Sir Nicholas de Carew, who fought with Edward I in Scotland and Ireland was responsible for the majority of the structure we see today, the western range of buildings with its two enormous towers and the great hall. He died in 1311 and was buried in the parish church of Carew Cheriton, where an effigy of a knight believed to be that of Sir Nicholas remains today.

The Carew family held their Pembrokeshire castle until Rhys ap Thomas bought the property from Sir Edmund Carew, who was in serious financial difficulties, in the late 15th century. Rhys became one of the regions most influential leaders.

He was said to have sworn an oath to Richard III that Henry Tudor would land in Wales 'over my belly'. Despite this, Rhys supported the Tudor cause when Henry landed at nearby Mill Bay in 1485. Legend has it that he salved his concience by hiding under Mullock Bridge, so that Henry could fulfil the promise of the oath.

Gathering troops in a march through Wales, Sir Rhys went on to play a prominent part in the battle of Bosworth and was rewarded by the king with land and power. He rebuilt much of Carew Castle and in 1507 staged the last medieval tournament in Wales. Six hundred of the Welsh nobility were invited to take part in 5 days of jousting, hunting and banqueting.

In 1558, Sir John Perrot gained control of the castle. He was said to be the illegimate son of Henry VIII. He was granted the governorship of the castle at the beginning of Elizabeth's reign and embarked on the rebuilding of the North front of the castle in Elizabethan style. Though he was a member of the Privy Council, he fell out of favour of the Queen and was imprisoned in the Tower of London where he died of natural causes. His lands, including the castle were forfeit to the crown.

The Carew family regained their rights to the castle in 1607 and during the civil war was owned by Sir George Carew who declared for the king, but it was garrisoned at different times by both royalists and parliementarians and changed hands four times, at least once after a fierce assault. Buildings on the south side were deliberately damaged to prevent the enemy from making further use of the site.

Following the Civil War the castle was occupied for some years, but eventually abandoned in the 1680's.

In 1984 the National Park Authority leased the castle and surrounding areas, and an extensive programme of restoration was begun with the aims of conserving the buildings. The castle is now a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest due to its bat population and several rare species of plant.

For further information or to arrange a visit to the Castle, please contact:

Phil Bennett/Helen Davies
Carew Castle and Tidal Mill
Carew
Nr Tenby
Pembrokeshire

01646 651782 (inc FAX)
enquiries@carewcastle.com