Picton Casle, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. 3 1/2 Miles east-south of haverfordwest. The first castle on this site has long since vanished, but it was established in the reign of William II ("Rufus") by William de Picton. De Piction was a Norman knight who accompanied Arnulph de Montgomery into south-west Wales. De Montgomery founded the first Pembroke Astle in 1097, while de Picton moved fruther north. It is likely that Picton Castle was a Welsh strongold, and that de Picton moved in, and stayed in, after he had outed the castles original owners. The substanial ruins of the large, solid castle-block, with its four attached round towers and the small double-towered gatehouse, datre from the late 13th century or even early 14th Century. the history of the earlier castle is unknown , but Picton Castle did succeed the nearby Wiston Castle, and the last mention of that castle was in 1220 when it was recorded that it was to be rebuilt. It never was, and perhaps the move took place soon after, with work on the new Picton Castle beinning after Edwards I's victory's of 1282-83. The castle changed hands during Owain Glyndwr's revolt in 1403, but it was not until the Civil War between Charles I and his Parliament that Picton Castle became truely embroiled in national events. Sir Richard Hilipps garrisoned the castle for the Royalists, and after if had changed hands in the early stages, the Parliamentarians besieged it. The siege was long, and the Royalists seemed to be holding out until they were beaten by the capture of a hostage. The castle nursery occupied on of the lower rooms and had a window looking away from the walls. A Parliamentary messenger, carrying a flag of truce, rode up to the window one day when the nursemaid held the infant Erasmus Philipps in her arms. To receive the message she opened the window and leant out, strethcing toward the horseman. Suddenly he smatched the child and galloped back to his camp. The demand to surrender or sacrifice the child soon arrived, and the castle immediately surrendered. The Parliamentarians were apparently moved the the Garrison's stand and by the unhesitating way the gave themselves up to save the child-and, no doubt, were troubled by their own tactics- so they allowed the garrison the full honours of war, and even arranged the Picton Castle, unlike most, should not be slighted On private land and not normally open to the public.... Taken from the Castles of Wales by Allen Reid However private this site might be several of my relatives have been to see it and met our relative that now resides there... soon to come photos of the Castle |
I couldn't be more excited It seems the castle is now open for public and they have a web site and it lists some of our early family History! I will still put up personal Photos soon |