Welsh Anglo-Norman castles
Wales' Norman-built stone castles and English expansion. Llywelyn the Great's expedition during 1215, and Welsh built castles. (Wikipedia articles linked). Castles in Wales had been originally built with wood, but they did not last long. Some of these fortifications were adapted from pre-existing hillforts , and these forts were built using the natural earthworks from the local vicinity, but, in some cases, the fortifications constructed would have a motte and bailey . For a generation after the Norman invasion of Wales in the 1080s, Norman castles were built in the Kingdom of Gwynedd, such as Aberlleiniog Castle on Anglesey which was similar to previous fortifications, however this time they were built with stone and capable of withstanding the harsh terrain of Northern Europe. The Norman fortifications were a few centuries before the new era of castle building which became known as the Ring of Iron (1277-1320s) e.g. Ca...