Anglesey Island
Anglesey (Ynys Môn in Welsh) was historically a stronghold of Welsh culture and resistance. Controlling Anglesey meant controlling vital sea routes and agricultural lands, making it strategically important.
Beaumaris Castle was located on the eastern shore of the island, adjacent to the town of Beaumaris, which Edward also planned as a model English settlement.
Natural Defenses
The site chosen for Beaumaris benefited from natural water defenses. The castle was built on a flat coastal plain bordered by the sea on one side and marshlands on others, enhancing its defensive capabilities.
Construction of Beaumaris Castle
Commissioning and Design
Construction began in 1295, under the direction of master mason James of Saint George, a skilled architect from Savoy renowned for his expertise in military design.
Beaumaris was designed as a concentric castle—a fortress within a fortress—with an inner ward surrounded by a larger outer wall, towers, and a moat. This design was innovative and reflected the latest advances in military architecture.
Architectural Features
- Outer Wall and Moat: The outer curtain wall enclosed a large perimeter, reinforced by multiple towers and protected by a wide water-filled moat.
- Inner Ward: The inner ward housed the keep, gatehouses, residential buildings, chapel, and service quarters.
- Gatehouses: Both inner and outer gates were heavily fortified, featuring portcullises, murder holes, and arrow slits.
- Symmetry and Geometry: The castle’s layout was highly symmetrical, with angular bastions designed for crossfire coverage.
Labor and Resources
Thousands of workers, including masons, carpenters, and laborers, were brought in to build the castle. Materials like limestone and sandstone were quarried locally.
Construction was an expensive and resource-intensive project funded directly by the crown shutdown123