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Medieval Swansea
Medieval Swansea surrounded the castle on three sides, on the fourth side, to the east, the land sloped away to the River Tawe and the quay. The original or Old Castle was built by the Norman, Henry de Beaumont, Earl of Warwick who had conquered the Gower. Nothing remains visible of this castle today; having been built in 1106, by 1217 the Welsh had destroyed it. The New Castle, the remains of which we are familiar with today, was built by William de Breos II, Lord of Gower, at the end of the thirteenth century. The Cross-Keys Inn is the only other medieval building remaining in Swansea, or more accurately the rear of this much restored building incorporates the remains of the Hospital of the Blessed David. Built by Henry de Gower, Bishop of St. David’s in 1332 this almshouse was ‘for the support of other poor chaplains and laymen deprived of bodily health’.
Sub-Theme
Objects from Medieval Swansea

Cave Archaeology & The Pleistocene
Archaeologists, Antiquarians and Egyptologists
Death & Burial
Medieval Swansea
The Iron Age

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Swansea Castle in 1840 - Joseph Murray Ince
The Gnoll Stone
Gellionen Stone
Incense Burner
Castle Lane - William Butler
Cross Keys Inn, Swansea - William Grant Murray
Bearded Jug
Bronze Bird
Bronze Button
Wax Trough
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