Pembroke Castle

Pembroke Castle was founded in 1093 by Arnulf de Montgomery. Its massive round keep, added later, became a launch point for the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. It remained a powerful Marcher fortress throughout the medieval period.

Why it mattered

• Staging point for Irish invasion
• Seat of the earldom of Pembroke

Architecture and the site

• Great round keep
• Natural limestone cave beneath the hall

Chronology (selected)

• 1093: Arnulf de Montgomery founds the castle
• 1138: Gilbert de Clare begins stone keep

Hub essays

• Region context: normans in wales and the march and the shared bibliography.
• Castles and fortification: Norman castles — motte to stone.

On the map

Use Open on map to fly to this pin in the Norman expansion era. Layers are teaching overlays — pair them with charters, excavation reports, and the works above.