As with so many castles in Britain, it has been
altered, extended, and on occasion, treated rather harshly, but has managed
throughout this time to retain much of its dramatic appearance and rugged
dignity. It benefits from a fine position next to the Carew inlet, part of the
tidal Milford Haven estuary, and overlooks a twenty three acre millpond. Indeed
the castle has the only tidal mill in
Wales, and one of only four in Britain. The mill machinery remains, although
the mill no longer functions.
The keep is undoubtedly Norman, with a twelfth
century stone enclosure being added. What we see today in terms of the high
walled structure dates from the thirteenth century.
The Carew family have popped in and out of ownership
over the years, but suffered difficult times around the Black Death, when Rhys
Ap Thomas came into ownership. He was a wily old scallywag who came into his
fortune by changing sides and supporting Henry Tudor just prior to the Battle
of Bosworth.
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| Carew Castle |
Henry’s family subsequently fell out of favour with Henry VIII
with obvious consequences, and a later owner, Sir John Perrott, having carried
out more alterations, fell out of favour and died in the Tower of London in
1592. It is at this stage that you begin to get the impression that it was a
bit of a poisoned chalice to own this property!
The castle reverted to the crown and was finally
re-purchased by the de Carew family in 1607. In the Civil War, the castle was refortified by Royalists
although south Pembrokeshire was strongly for Parliament. After changing hands
three times, the south wall was pulled down to render the castle indefensible
to Royalists. At the Restoration the
castle was returned to the de Carews as they were known by now, who continued
to occupy the eastern wing until 1686.
Regrettably at that time, the castle suffered
abandonment, when decay and looting ensued. Since 1984, Cadw
has provided funding for a number of restoration works undertaken for
the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
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