Painscastle

Adullam Baptist Chapel, Painscastle.

Painscastle (Welsh: Castell-paen) is a castle in Powys, Wales and also a village which takes its name from the castle. It lies between Builth and Hay-on-Wye, approximately 3 miles from the Wales-England border today.

Early history

The first castle would appear to have been built by Pain fitzJohn. The site was probably what remained of a much earlier Roman fort, so naturally defensible. The ground plan is rectangular and Roman artifacts have been found at the site.

Pain fitzJohn was killed by a Welsh raiding party in 1137 and Elfael in which Painscastle stands, was taken over by the native Welsh ruler, Madog ab Idnerth.

Recapture & Refortification

The castle remained in Welsh hands until about 1195 when the area was captured by William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber, who refortified the castle. His formidable wife Maud de Braose, also known as Matilda, held Painscastle against the Welsh for a few months.

Welsh sieges

In 1196 Rhys ap Gruffudd of Deheubarth defeated the Marcher Lords in a battle at Radnor 8 miles to the north and also besieged Painscastle, but did not actually take it as terms were agreed. In 1198 Gwenwynwyn ab Owain of Powys raised a large army to besiege the castle, but was heavily defeated by an army led by the Justiciar, Geoffrey fitz Peter. This English army formed at nearby Hay on Wye.

Baronial conflict

William de Braose fell out with king John of England in 1208 and was forced to flee the kingdom. King John held his lands and castles until Painscastle was apparently occupied by Iorwerth Clud, a Welsh de Braose ally, in 1215. He submitted to King John in 1216 and was granted the Lordship of Elfael until his death in 1222. The Welsh then transferred their allegiance back to Llywelyn ap Iorwerth and the castle was attacked and destroyed by the Welsh.

Campaign against Llywelyn the Great

In 1231 the castle was rebuilt in stone by King Henry III of England and Hubert de Burgh as part of a campaign against Llywelyn the Great. In 1233 the castle was claimed by Ralph Tosny, whose family held it until the castle was taken by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd from Roger Tosny in 1265. Another Ralph Tosny was able to recover and rebuild it in 1276.

It later passed to the Beauchamp dynasty's hands, Earls of Warwick.

Owain Glyndŵr

Painscastle was refortified yet again at the time of the Welsh rebellion led by Owain Glyndŵr in 1401 while under the Beauchamps for the King, Henry IV.

Today

Little now remains of the castle other than the massive earthworks.

References

Remfry, P.M., Painscastle, 1066 to 1405 (ISBN 1-899376-38-0)

External links

Coordinates: 52°06′N 3°13′W / 52.100°N 3.217°W / 52.100; -3.217

Powys

Principal settlements	Brecon Builth Wells Crickhowell Hay-on-Wye Knighton Llandrindod Wells Llanfair Caereinion Llanfyllin Llanidloes Llanwrtyd Wells Machynlleth Montgomery Newtown Presteigne Rhayader Talgarth Welshpool Ystradgynlais

Communities	Abbey Cwmhir Aberedw Aberhafesp Banwy Bausley with Criggion Beguildy Berriew Bettws Brecon Bronllys Builth Cadfarch Caersws Carno Carreghofa Castle Caereinion Churchstoke Cilmery Clyro Cray Crickhowell Disserth and Trecoed Duhonw Dwyriw Erwood Felin-fach Forden with Leighton and Trelystan Gladestry Glantwymyn Glasbury Glascwm Glyn Tarell Guilsfield Gwernyfed Hay Honddu Isaf Kerry Knighton Llanafan Fawr Llanbadarn Fawr Llanbadarn Fynydd Llanbister Llanbrynmair Llanddew Llanddewi Ystradenny Llandinam Llandrindod Wells Llandrinio Llandysilio Llandyssil Llanelwedd Llanerfyl Llanfair Caereinion Llanfechain Llanfihangel Llanfihangel Cwmdu with Bwlch and Cathedine Llanfihangel Rhydithon Llanfrynach Llanfyllin Llangamarch Llangattock Llangedwyn Llangors Llangunllo Llangurig Llangynidr Llangyniew Llangynog Llanidloes Llanidloes Without Llanigon Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant Llansantffraid Llansilin Llanwddyn Llanwrthwl Llanwrtyd Wells Llanyre Llywel Machynlleth Maescar Manafon Meifod Merthyr Cynog Mochdre Montgomery Nantmel New Radnor Newtown and Llanllwchaiarn Old Radnor Painscastle Pen-y-bont-fawr Penybont Presteigne Rhayader St Harmon Talgarth Talybont on Usk Tawe Uchaf The Vale of Grwyney Trallong Trefeglwys Treflys Tregynon Trewern Welshpool Whitton Yscir Ystradfellte Ystradgynlais

Towns and villages	Abbeycwmhir Aber Clydach Aberbechan Aberbran Abercegir Abercraf Aberedw Abergwesyn Abergwydol Aberhafesp Aberhosan Abermule Abernant Abertridwr Aberyscir Adfa Aithnen Arddlin Bacheldre Beguildy Berriew Bettws Cedewain Beulah Bont Dolgadfan Boughrood Bronllys Builth Wells Burgedin Buttington Bwlch Caehopkin Caersws Capel-y-ffin Carno Cathedine Cemmaes Road Church Stoke Cilmery Clatter Clyro Coelbren Commins Coch Crickhowell Criggion Crossgates Cwmdauddwr Cwmdu Cwmtwrch Cwmwysg Cwrt y Gollen Derwenlas Dolanog Dolfach Dolyhir Dylife Erwood Esgairgeiliog Forge Four Crosses Gladestry Glasbury Hay-on-Wye Heartsease Heol Senni Kerry Knucklas Libanus Llan Llanafan Fawr Llanbrynmair Llanddew Llandinam Llandrinio Llandysilio Llanelwedd Llanfair Caereinion Llanfechain Llanfihangel Nant Bran Llanfyllin Llangadfan Llangammarch Wells Llangedwyn Llangors Llangurig Llangynidr Llangynog Llangynyw Llanllwchaiarn Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant Llansantffraed Llansanffraid-ym-Mechain Llansilin Llanwchaiarn Llanwrin Llanwrthwl Llanwrtyd Wells Llanwrtyd Llanymynech Llanyre Llawryglyn Llyswen Llywel Meifod Milebrook Morben Nant Glas New Radnor Newbridge-on-Wye Old Church Stoke Painscastle Pandy Pant-y-Dwr Partrishow Penegoes Pennant Penwyllt Penybont Pilleth Plas Esgair Pont Crugnant Pontdolgoch Pontrobert Sarn Sennybridge St Harmon Staylittle Sycharth Talerddig Talgarth Talybont-on-Usk Three Cocks Tirabad Trecastle Trefeglwys Tregynon Trewern Tylwch Van, Llanidloes Ystradfellte

Castles	Aberysgir Castle Aberedw Castle Castell Dinas Castell Du Cefnllys Colwyn Castle Dolforwyn Castle Llangoed Hall Mediomanum Montgomery Castle Painscastle Powis Castle Tretower Castle

Reservoirs and lakes	Beacons Reservoir Cantref Reservoir Clywedog reservoir Elan Valley Reservoirs Llangorse Lake Lake Vyrnwy Talybont Reservoir

Topics	Parliamentary constituencies Places Schools SSSIs Scheduled Monuments Country houses Grade I listed buildings Grade II* listed buildings Lord Lieutenants High Sheriffs Museums

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