The Revolution (the so-called Civil War) in Wales

• Brecon deliberately destroyed much of its castle and town walls to express its neutrality.

• Caerphilly Castle. An armory was built here at the time of the Revolution. In response Cromwell seized it, drained the moat and attempted to blow up the towers. One of the towers outleans the Tower of Pisa and is reputed to be this way because of these attempts.

  The Castle had originally been built against the Welsh. Llewellyn had almost immediately destroyed the original castle in 1270, but the rebuilt castle became defunct and gradually decayed until the incident above. It further decayed, being surrounded by shops etc. The moat was re-flooded in 1958. South eastern tower, most other towers restored

• Chepstow twice beseiged by the parliamentary forces.

• Conwy At the outbreak, John Williams, Archbishop of York, and native of Conwy, restored the castle at his own expense. A parliamentary assault in Summer 1646 under General Mytton was repulsed initially but Williams changed sides (which is an indication of morale in the Royalist camp) - the town fell in August 1646 and the castle in November, apparently leaving it ruined. The Welsh defenders were treated leniently, but a group of Irish soldiers were thrown from the castle into the estuary.

• Monmouth castle almost destroyed. The Great Castle House, close by, was built out of castle bricks.

• Pembroke was originally parl, but the governor switched sides, so Pembroke was attacked by Cromwell in 1648. He was beaten back by the strength of the walls, (castle itself was partly derelict). However there followed a 48-day siege and the parliamentary troops grabbed the water supply. Cromwell ordered the further demolition of town walls and castle.

• In March 1647, Harlech became the last royalist castle to fall.