Beyond some village cottages on a rocky promontory, overlooking the Teifi Gorge is Cilgerran Castle. It is a strategic position, fortified by at least 1108 by the Norman, Gerald of Windsor. It was captured by the Welsh in 1164, retaken by William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, in 1204, recaptured by the Welsh during Llywelyn the Great’s campaigns in 1215, but was back in English hands in 1223 when William Marshal’s son, also William, built a stone castle on the site. It is reckoned to have been largely ruinous by 1405.
Today, the main ruins are of the inner ward, which includes two massive 13th century towers connected by a curtain wall. The outline of other buildings remains, though the outer defences are now largely under gardens and houses. One of many interesting features is a sally port in the south side of the curtain wall, between the towers.
It has been suggested that Cilgerran Castle is the site of Cenarth Bychan castle, from which Gerald of Windsor’s beautiful wife, Nest, daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, was abducted by her admirer, Owain ap Cadwgan, while Gerald escaped via the privy.
Cilgerran Castle is owned by the National Trust and looked after by Cadw.