Skenfrith Castle

Grosmont, Skenfrith and White Castles formed a triangle to guard the southern border of England and Wales, an area commonly referred to as the Marchers. In the 12th century, all three castles came under the ownership of Hubert de Burgh, who carried out substantial building work at Grosmont and Skenfrith Castles. However, White Castle already boasted a stone curtain wall and a strong, square Norman keep, and is likely to have served as a predominantly military fortification, not requiring much alteration.

Basically a square surrounded by a curtain wall with a tower at each of its corners, this is a very compactly designed castle. Three of the four corner towers are still standing and obviously served a military purpose because arrowslits can be seen in them. Built some time later than the rest of Skenfrith Castle is a tower located midway along the west curtain.

The original entrance to Skenfrith Castle is located along the north-east wall curtain, although very little of it remains today, appearing as no more than a break in the wall. Existing to wall walk height in many places, the curtain wall itself has survived relatively good condition. Within the bailey, the predominant feature is the circular keep, which is likely to have been built as one of the last components of Skenfrith Castle. Originally comprising a basement and two further storeys, the keep had no connection between the ground and first floors, save for a trap door. As was usual, the first floor would have been reached externally by a wooden flight of stairs. Against the west curtain wall lie the remains of the hall range and domestic buildings, and towards the centre of the east curtain wall, the flight of steps would have lead from the bailey to an arched doorway serving as a water gate. Protection of Skenfrith Castle was formerly by a ditch, now backfilled, on one side and the River Monnow along its eastern boundary.

As with Grosmont and White Castles, Skenfrith Castle was abandoned during the 16th century and was ruinous by the 17th century. It is still a wonderfully peaceful site, with a farm abutted to the curtain wall and boasting an old water wheel at one edge, and just a short walk in the opposite direction is the ancient parish church with a rare dovecote projecting from the roof.