County

How to get there

History

In 1277 he began building his first castle at Flint.  Speed was crucial and a well paid workforce of 2,300 was used work in hostile territory.  The fortification consisted of a rectangular enclosure with three round towers and a huge Great Tower.  This was slightly apart from the wall of the inner bailey and was defended by its own moat and drawbridge.  The tower had walls 23 feet thick and was the focus of the castle with a chapel, kitchens and living quarters.   An outer bailey was built but it was weak and  very little now remains.  

Work on the castle stopped in 1280 but in 1282 after a Welsh uprising Edward again secured the castle. 

Two tragic English kings are connected with Flint Castle.   Edward II welcomed his favourite Piers Gaveston to the castle in 1311.  In 1399 Richard II was tricked into leaving Wales by the Earl of Northumberland.  On the way to London to meet Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Lancaster, Richard was ambushed and taken to Flint Castle.  There he was persuaded to abdicate in favour Bolingbroke who became Henry IV.  Richard was taken to Pontefract Castle where he was probably murdered.