WHITE CASTLE

Monmouthshire

This very handsome but very remote Castle was probably preceeded by an earth and timber Castle, the earliest recorded owner being Payn FitzJohn, a soldier in Henry I's army. He exchanged the land here and at Skenfrith and Grosmont with King Stephen. All three parcels of land were given to Hubert de Burgh by King John, but unlike Skenfrith and Grosmont, Hubert doesn't seem to have rebuilt White Castle.

The stone keep was built on the motte by William de Braose and strengthened by his son during King John's turbulent reign.  Around 1263 the Castle was heavily rebuilt by Prince Edward to counter the threat of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd.  The entrance to the Castle was swapped to the opposite side, an outer ward was constructed and the keep was altered in shape.  Fine views can be had from the top of the gatetower.

The castle, along with those at Skenfrith and Grosmont, stayed with the Duchy of Lancaster until the 19th century. White Castle seems to have been the last to be used, being occupied until the mid-15th Century. By the time Leland visited in 1538 it had been abandoned.

An unusual visitor in recent years was Rudolph Hess who was kept in an Abergavenny mental institution after his flight to Scotland in World War II.

The White Castle is one of a triangle of similar border castles along with Skenfrith and Grosmont.

The Castle is owned by CADW (Welsh Heritage) and is open and free at all reasonable times.

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2004