Castles / GB / Wales
Haverfordwest Castle
Which definitions does it satisfy?
This dataset does not record whether something “is a castle”. It records a verdict against each named definition, with the reasoning that produced it.
| Definition | Verdict | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Fortified residence | yes | Inner ward with round towers, a square tower with projecting turret, a rectangular keep retaining early arrow loops, a gatehouse and a wall-walk carried on corbels (active defence held), together with a spacious hall with large windows and private apartments (residence); founded by Tancred and later held by de Bohun and Queen Eleanor. Both halves are met. |
| Enclosure fortification | unassessed | No source consulted so far speaks to this definition. Unassessed is not the same as no. |
| State fortification | unassessed | No source consulted so far speaks to this definition. Unassessed is not the same as no. |
| Palatial seat | unassessed | No source consulted so far speaks to this definition. Unassessed is not the same as no. |
| Revival and folly | unassessed | No source consulted so far speaks to this definition. Unassessed is not the same as no. |
| Popularly a castle | unassessed | No source consulted so far speaks to this definition. Unassessed is not the same as no. |
Facts
| Tradition | european medieval |
|---|---|
| Location | Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales, GB |
| Built | Medieval |
| Confidence | medium |
| First recorded | 2026-07-21 |
| Last updated | 2026-07-22 |
In the registers
Where this structure appears in official inventories. This is what turns an individual record into evidence about a count.
- Cof Cymru — National Historic Assets of Wales —
PE366· Scheduled Monument — SiteType: Castle · entry
Location
Approximate. © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Notes
Designation report (PE366) assessed. fortified_residence upgraded to assessed: yes on described towers, keep with arrow loops, gatehouse, wall-walk, hall and apartments, with named lordly holders. Other bands omitted: the later conversion documented is to a PRISON, not a palatial residence, so palatial_seat is not supported; the report gives no popular-usage evidence; Civil-War refortification does not change the original lordly purpose. One report plus register → medium.
Sources
- Scheduled Monument Full Report — Haverfordwest Castle — Cadw, 2026-07-22
Cadw's full scheduled-monument report (PE366); assessed against the bands.
Signals
Raw per-source observations behind this record (2):
sig-20260721-cadw-pe366,
sig-20260722-report-pe366
Record file · dataset licensed CC BY 4.0 — see provenance.