Amy Green Rhuddlan Castle is a ruined, medieval castle in the town of Rhuddlan in Denbighshire, Wales. The castle was built by King Edward I of England following the invasion of North Wales by Anglo-Normans from south of the border. The region had been ruled since 1282 by Madog ap Llywelyn, who became subject to the king after decades of guerrilla warfare.
It is a typical example of an Edwardian motte and bailey castle with its mound and earthworks seen at most angles around it. The castle was besieged on several occasions, and in 1282 a Welsh revolt broke out against English rule. In April of that year, Edward had led an army into the north to fight the revolt, leading to the Battle of Moel-y-don where Madog was killed.
The castle was then built near to a church in Rhuddlan, an area which had been cleared by Edward’s troops of all Welsh inhabitants when they first moved into the region. The town is now known for its ruined castle and is popular with tourists and school children visiting from nearby Chester.
As an administrative centre, Rhuddlan initially flourished as a trading centre; after the castle became derelict in the 16th century it fell into disrepair and some of its built structures were destroyed. With its Welsh inhabitants expelled by Edward I following his conquest, Rhuddlan then became a largely English settlement that continued to thrive even after its castle was abandoned.
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