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History
 

Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Hertford started building a castle at Caerphilly in 1268.  The castle was concentric in design and much in advance of its time.  The site comprised a rectangular enclosure with outer and inner walls.  The inner walls contained two gatehouses and the great hall with domestic buildings.  The outer walls were fortified with towers and their own gatehouse and were surrounded by a lake.  The artificial lake was formed by a fortified dam spanning 400 yards.  The buttressed dam not only held in a great volume of water but provided additional defence for the castle.  To the east great walls studded by towers were built beyond the lake, the lake defended the north and south sides while the west was protected by a walled island.

The site covering 30 acres is the largest in Wales and is only exceeded in Britain by Windsor. 

The castle successfully repelled attacks by Llywelyn in 1270 and 1271 and was not involved in Edward I's Welsh wars at the end of the 13th century.   After the death of de Clare's son the castle passed to Hugh Despenser the favourite of Edward II.  The King took refuge at Caerphilly from his estranged Queen Isabella and her lover, Roger Mortimer.  When she besieged the castle he was forced to flee leaving behind half his treasure and his clothes.  However, Isabella continued to besiege the castle for several months until it surrendered.  Edward's wealth was handed over to her and Despenser was beheaded. 

Apart from the attack and capture of the castle by Owain Glyndwr in the early part of the 15th century the castle had little further part to play in Welsh history.  However, it remained a useful  subduing presence and a base for collecting taxes. 

After the Civil War Cromwell ordered the castle to be slighted.  Stones were also taken for local building adding to the ruinous state of the castle.