Beaumaris Castle

Although King Edward I may have contemplated a new castle on Anglesey in 1283 - when work had just started at the great strongholds at Harlech, Caernarfon and Conwy - the construction of Beaumaris only began after the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn in 1294-5. Edward's master mason, James of St George, over saw the building of the castle to a concentric - walls within walls - plan that took full advantage of the coastal site. If it had been completed, the castle would have combined formidable defences with sophisticated suites of accommodation, but the king's attention was soon diverted elsewhere and Beaumaris stands as an unfinished masterpiece of medieval architecture. A tour of the castle follows a survey of its history in this 40-page guidebook, and it is illustrated in full colour with a mixture of specially commissioned photographs and reconstruction drawings, historical documents and images, and maps and plans.