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Cardigan Castle: 1000 years of history

There has been a castle here guarding the Teifi bridge at the entrance to the town since the 11thC. In the 12thC. it became the first stonebuilt Welsh castle and the site of the first eisteddfod. It subsequently changed hands between the Welsh and the Normans several times and then, after 4 centuries of calm, the castle was destroyed by Oliver Cromwell's army. In 1800 a mansion, Castle Green House, was built within the ruins. During WW2 the castle's defensive position was employed as a site for a pillbox which can be seen here. Privately owned,the site was neglected, the house fell into disrepair and the walls have needed shoring up for many years but in 2003 Ceredigion CC finally managed to purchase the castle with the help of a vigorous local campaign and extensive fundraising iniatives. A major restoration programme is now under way.