Raglan Castle: The Royalist Ruin

Raglan Castle represents the end of an era—the last great medieval castle constructed in Wales, and one of the last to fall during the English Civil War. Its destruction in 1646 was deliberate and thorough, leaving behind romantic ruins and restless spirits who never accepted defeat.

The History

A Castle of Splendor

Unlike Edward I’s Welsh fortresses, Raglan was built by the Welsh—specifically by Sir William ap Thomas and his son William Herbert, who rose to become Earl of Pembroke. The castle combined military strength with palatial luxury.

The Great Tower (Yellow Tower of Gwent) was a hexagonal keep surrounded by a moat, considered impregnable.

The Last Stand

During the Civil War, Raglan was held by the elderly Henry Somerset, Marquess of Worcester, for King Charles I. The castle endured one of the longest sieges of the war before surrendering in August 1646.

Parliament ordered the castle slighted. Troops systematically undermined the Great Tower, causing it to partially collapse—the ruins visible today.

The Hauntings

The Faithful Marquess

The ghost of Henry Somerset has been reported:

• An elderly man in Civil War-era clothing
• Walking the ruined great hall
• Appearing to give orders to unseen soldiers
• His presence brings a sense of noble determination

The Cavaliers

Royalist soldiers from the siege remain:

• Groups of men in 17th-century military dress
• The sound of drums and fifes
• Musket fire from empty walls
• They appear to be defending positions long since destroyed

The Destruction Echoes

Perhaps most dramatic are the re-enactments of the castle’s destruction:

• The sound of explosions
• Rumbling as if walls are collapsing
• Screaming and shouting
• These phenomena occur around the anniversary of the slighting

The Library Ghost

Raglan had a famous library, destroyed along with the castle. A scholarly figure has been seen:

• Carrying books that aren’t there
• Appearing to search through rubble
• An atmosphere of desperate loss
• Connected to the destruction of irreplaceable manuscripts

The Lady of the Fountain

In the castle’s fountain court, a woman in Tudor dress appears:

• Near the elaborate fountain (now ruined)
• She seems to be waiting for someone
• Vanishes when addressed
• Possibly connected to the Herbert family

Modern Activity

Paranormal investigations have documented:

• Strong electromagnetic readings near the Great Tower
• Temperature drops in the banqueting hall
• Audio recordings of battle sounds
• Photographic anomalies showing figures in period dress

Visiting

Raglan Castle is managed by Cadw. Its romantic ruins remain one of the most atmospheric sites in Wales—a monument to lost splendor and enduring loyalty.

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Raglan Castle was destroyed because it wouldn’t surrender. Centuries later, the spirits of its defenders still walk the ruins, loyal to a king whose cause died with them.