Morgraig Castle

Morgraig Castle (Castell Morgraig) is a ruined medieval castle on a ridge on the southern edge of the Caerphilly county borough in Wales, looking out over Cardiff. It is a protected site: a scheduled monument and a Grade II listed building, and its origins are still argued over by historians.

What is Morgraig Castle?

Morgraig is a 13th-century fortification that survives only as a ruin. Its dating is placed between 1243 and 1267, a period when the area was a frontier. The castle stands on the border between the English Lordship of Cardiff and the Welsh lordship of Senghenydd, which explains why its story is tied to the power struggle between the two sides.

Who built Morgraig Castle?

This is the main question hanging over the site, and it has no settled answer. Two main candidates are put forward. One is Gilbert de Clare, the Anglo-Norman lord of Glamorgan; the other is the Welsh Lord of Senghenydd. Some accounts name Earl Richard de Clare, active in the years 1243 to 1262, while others point to Gruffydd ap Rhys, who held Senghenydd between 1256 and 1267. Jack Spurgeon, writing in Cadw's magazine Heritage in Wales, suggested the de Clare lords of Glamorgan built it some time after 1243 and before 1267.

Was the castle ever finished?

No. Excavations carried out in 1903-4 concluded that the castle had never been completed, although walls had risen above first-floor level. Nothing indicates that it was ever lived in. That makes Morgraig an unusual stop: a fortress that was abandoned before it did the job it was built for.

How was it rediscovered?

The ruins were found in the summer of 1895 by a group from Cardiff Museum led by John Ward. The excavations of 1903-4 that followed were financed by Lord Windsor, and they produced the picture of an unfinished building that is still used today.

Protection and condition

Morgraig has been a scheduled monument since 1928. It was listed as a Grade II building on 28 January 1963. Its condition is recorded as ruinous, so expect low, weathered remains rather than a castle with towers and rooms to walk through.

Why visit?

• It is a quiet contrast to the large, well-known castle in nearby Caerphilly town: here you see a small, unfinished fortress rather than a restored one.
• The ridge position gives a sense of why the site was chosen, with the border country between the Cardiff lowlands and the hills behind it.
• It is a good fit for visitors interested in medieval Wales, the Clare family and the Welsh-Norman frontier.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Morgraig Castle? On a ridge near the southern border of Caerphilly county borough, overlooking Cardiff, Wales.

When was it built? In the 13th century, between 1243 and 1267.

Is it a protected monument? Yes. It is a scheduled monument and a Grade II listed building.

Was it ever completed? Excavations in 1903-4 concluded that it was not.

Who found it? A Cardiff Museum group led by John Ward, in 1895.