Vince Hawthorn's Pictures of Pembroke Castle

The Power of Pemboke

This is a shot of the Pembroke Castle skyline taken from the public footway on the other side of the water that nearly surrounds the Castle. This was taken and turned out to be a very bland shot so a chop here and a tweak there I managed to make a little something out of the pic ( I hope ).

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Pembroke Castle

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D

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From the Old to the New

A shot from the Great Tower again this time looking out to the west and in the distance can be some sort of chemical plant.

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Pembroke Castle

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D

Wales in Wales

As promised a larger view showing the map as discussed in the shot of the Great Tower or Keep as it is known. This shot is taken from the top of the Great Tower looking back toward the Gatehouse ( there is a large exhibition held in the Gatehouse ). The map of Wales is clear to see and it is painted onto a square Tarmac area, the map shows the position of the major castles in Wales. If by now you have worked up an appetite or need a cuppa then head for the building with the flat grey roof for your refreshment.

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Pembroke Castle

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D

Inside The Keep

The Keep or Great Tower as it is also known is described in more detail in an external picture of mine on POE. In this shot we see the tower from bottom to top from the inside and of course all the different floor levels being timber have now gone. To take the picture I had to lay my camera on the floor in the centre of the tower and step well to one side.

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Pembroke Castle

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D

The Keep - Pembroke Castle

The structure on the left is the Keep, the smaller tower is The Dungeon Tower and from left to right from the Dungeon Tower the Solar, Old or Norman Hall and the Great Hall on the far right. Access to the Wogan is from the Great Hall via a spiral stair case. The Keep itself is circular and thus the rooms inside were round as well, and it stands at a height of 25 metres and has an external diameter of 16 metres . It has a unique feature in Britain in that it has a stone dome at the top. Also at the top are a series of putlog holes so that a timber platform could be used and at the very top a small stone turret for observation purposes. This wonderful structure was the work of William Marshal 1 and would have been built from around 1204, the coat of arms for William Marshal can at present be seen as my avatar.

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Pembroke Castle

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D

Now That Has Got To Hurt

During the Civil War Pembroke declared for Parliament even though most of South Wales supported the Royalists. For a time Pembroke was besieged by Lord Carberry but was saved by Parliamentary reinforcements that arrived by sea at nearby Milford Haven. In 1648 towards the end of the war , Pembroke for some reason changed sides and it was Cromwell who took charge of a seven week siege of the Castle. At the end when the castle fell the three leaders within the Castle were tried and found guilty of treason. The tableaux is one of a number telling this part of the Castle's history.

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Pembroke Castle

Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-TZ25

The Wogan and an Early Pembroke

Here we can see one of two models of the Castle in the Gatehouse exhibitions. The room had two models under glass and around the walls a host of information boards charting the history of the Castle and notable people connected to it. In the model you can clearly see the entrance to the Wogan ( a natural cavern and the only one to be found beneath a British Castle ). When the Castle was reconstructed in stone the Wogan had a wall built across the entrance.

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Pembroke Castle

Camera Make: Panasonic Model: DMC-TZ25

Birthplace

This tower at Pembroke Castle is thought to be the birthplace on 28th January 1457 of Harri Tudur. Oh you may know him by his English and not Welsh name, that would be the first Tudor Monarch, Henry V11 or Henry Tudor. Henry took the throne but his claim to the throne was very doubtful with others having a stronger claim but that is another story.

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Pembroke Castle

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D

The Wogan

I think I am right in saying that Pembroke Castle is the only castle built in Britain that is built over a natural cavern - and this is it. It is entered from within the castle down a flight of steps , however the cavern is visible from the outside so might have been an access from the water ( does that make it a weak point I wonder ?).

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Pembroke Castle

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D

Pembroke Castle

One more view of the area around the castle normally full of water, this view taken from one of the sluices shows a bit more water remaining. The Keep stands out in this shot, it was built by William Marshal ( son in law of Strongbow) after 1189 when he became Earl of Pembroke and spent around 30 years transforming the old wooden structure into the stone castle we see today.

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Pembroke Castle

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D

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Pembroke Castle- where the water go?

This is one of the classic shots of Pembroke Castle taken from a public footpath from the other side of a water defence for the castle. This is not a moat but one side of the castle where normally the area would be full of water, Pembroke Castle is surrounded on nearly three sides by water that is a natural feature. However! On our visit the water was gone, at first I thought it was tidal but then I realised after a fair elapse of time it was still as dry and there was water in the Mill pond upstream and beyond the dam/sluice to the Pembroke River, I can only presume it has been drained for some maintenance of some sort or another.

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Pembroke Castle

Camera Make: Canon Model: Canon EOS 550D

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