The History of Carew Castle

The site on which Carew Castle was built has had a place in history long before the Norman conquests of Wales began.

Numerous site excavations have revealed defensive ditches and trace of an entrance, possibly a gateway. It has been noted by historians that the particular layout of the defenses is characteristic of the 'Iron Age Celts' who were in control of the area for centuries before the birth of Christ, as well as a short time after.

Radiocarbon dating of objects found during excavations seems to imply that the site was in continuous habitation up to the Norman invasion. Jewelry and pottery dating as far back as the 1^st century have been recovered during digs. The Carew Cross has given historians food for thought about the importance of this site in the earliest periods of history.

On the cross there is a reference of Maredudd ap Edwin, co-ruler of the kingdom of Deheubarth until his death in 1035. It is possible the cross is his memorial marker, and if so, Carew may have been the royal home for this Celtic kingdom.

This may also explain the dowry of the fort and lands of Carew fort the Princess Nest, a granddaughter of the last King. The marriage of Princess Nest and Gerald de Windsor may well have been the catalyst for Gerald to flatten the fort and built the castle. It was a marriage not only of man and woman, old strategies and new ideas, and of Norman domination and Celtic tradition.

The Norman influence of Carew stemmed from the heavy-handed takeover of Southwest Wales by Arnulf de Montgomery, who created the Earldom of Pembroke. The governor that was appointed to the earldom was Gerald de Windsor.

Arnulf became a bit too big for his pantaloons and decided to rebel against the King Henry I. Arnulf's mistake was Gerald's triumph, as he ascended to not only becoming the representative to the crown and taking over Arnulf's holdings, but by marrying the Princess Nest and receiving the lands of Carew as part of her dowry. Gerald completed his rise to stardom with the building of Carew Castle.