Chepstow Castle is situated on a narrow ridge between the limestone river cliff and a valley, known locally as the Dell, on its landward side. Its full extent is best appreciated from the opposite bank of the River Wye. The castle has four
baileys, added in turn through its history. Despite this, it is not a defensively strong castle, having neither a strong
keep nor a
concentric layout. The multiple baileys instead show its construction history, which is generally considered in four major phases. The first serious architectural study of Chepstow began in 1904 and the canonical description was long considered to be by Perks in 1955. Recent studies have revised the details of these phases, but still maintain the same broad structure.
Foundation, 1067–1188 The speed with which
William the Conqueror committed to the creation of a
castle at Chepstow is testament to its strategic importance. There is no evidence for a settlement there of any size before the
Norman invasion of Wales, although it is possible that the castle site itself may have previously been a prehistoric or early medieval stronghold. The site overlooked an important crossing point on the
River Wye, a major artery of communications inland to
Monmouth and
Hereford. At the time, the Welsh kingdoms in the area were independent of the English Crown and the castle in Chepstow would also have helped suppress the
Welsh from attacking
Gloucestershire along the Severn shore towards
Gloucester. However, recent analysis suggests that the rulers of
Gwent, who had recently fought against
King Harold, may initially have been on good terms with the Normans. The precipitous limestone cliffs beside the river afforded an excellent defensive location. Building work started under William FitzOsbern in 1067 or shortly afterwards. The Great Tower was probably completed by about 1090, possibly intended as a show of strength by King William in dealing with the Welsh king
Rhys ap Tewdwr. It was constructed in stone from the first (as opposed to wood, like most others built at this time), marking its importance as a stronghold on the border between
England and
Wales. Although much of the stone seems to have been quarried locally, there is also evidence that some of the blocks were re-used from the
Roman ruins at
Caerwent. The castle originally had the Norman name of
Striguil, derived from the Welsh word
ystraigl meaning "river bend". FitzOsbern also founded a
priory nearby, and the associated market town and port of Chepstow developed over the next few centuries. The castle and the associated
Marcher lordship were generally known as Striguil until the late 14th century, and as Chepstow thereafter.
Expansion by William Marshal and Roger Bigod, 1189–1300 Further fortifications were added by
William Marshal,
Earl of Pembroke, starting in the 1190s. The wood in the doors of the gatehouse has been dated by
dendrochronology to the period 1159–89. Marshal extended and modernised the castle, drawing on his knowledge of warfare gained in France and
the Crusades. He built the present main gatehouse, strengthened the defences of the Middle
Bailey with round towers, and, before his death in 1219, may also have rebuilt the Upper Bailey defences. Further work to expand the Great Tower was undertaken for William Marshal's sons
William,
Richard,
Gilbert and
Walter, in the period to 1245. In 1270, the castle was inherited by Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk, who was a grandson of William Marshal's eldest daughter,
Maud. He constructed a new range of buildings in the Lower Bailey, as accommodation for himself and his family. Bigod was also responsible for building Chepstow's town wall, the "
Port Wall", around 1274–78. The castle was visited by King
Edward I in 1284, at the end of his triumphal tour through Wales. Soon afterwards, Bigod had built a new tower (later known as "Marten's Tower"), which now dominates the landward approach to the castle, and also remodelled the Great Tower. ==Later history==