Longtown Castle

Longtown Castle traces its origins nearly 2,000 years to a Roman fort, originally constructed during the Silures resistance against Roman rule in the 1st century. Following the Norman Conquest, Walter de Lacy established the medieval fortress on these Roman earthworks, creating a motte and north and south baileys to defend the English border with Wales. An additional east bailey was added later, and a stone keep was built atop the motte in the 12th century. Gilbert de Lacy rebuilt the structure in stone after 1148 and established an adjacent town to help finance the work. The entire complex was eventually surrounded by a curtain wall in the 13th century and is now in English Heritage's care.