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History

It is a good example of a ring castle and is the best preserved of the Marcher castles.  The first castle on the site was built in the 12th century and consisted of a lower inner ward and a crescent shaped bailey.  This was protected by earthworks and encircled by a moat.  The inner ward had a walled egg-shaped enclosure with the keep forming the entrance at the blunt end.  The site was then known as Llantillo Castle. 

At the end of the 13th century most of the keep was dismantled and replaced by six round towers around the curtain wall, two of which formed the gateway.  A new bailey was constructed opposite the gateway.  It was well ditched and walled, with a gate and several towers.  During the 13th century White Castle was held at various times by the powerful de Burgh and de Braose families.  Finally, the castle passed to the Crown and was put in the charge of the German Waleran for several years.   Much of the 13th century building was carried out during this time and the castle was given a covering of light plaster which gave it its new name. 

The castle was given to Prince Edward who became Edward I.  Edward gave the three Marcher castles to his brother Edmond, Earl of Lancaster and spent a great deal on defence as the Welsh under Llywelyn, Prince of Wales were becoming a threat.  In 1282 Edward destroyed the threat for ever and White Castle lost its military importance. 

In the following years the castle decayed and by the 16th century it was derelict.  It was sold to the Duke of Beaufort in 1825 and in 1922 the last owner, Sir Henry Mather Jackson, appointed the Government as guardians of the castle.