Chepstow Castle

When we hear the phrase "history repeats itself", we often think of it in negative terms.

For Cadw members – who are able to enjoy unlimited visits to 130 historic sites – the phrase takes on an entirely different meaning. For members, it means being able to go back to the same site as often as they please, rediscovering history and, through their membership, contributing to the protection and preservation of iconic monuments. You can find out more information and become a member here.

And, with over 600 years' history weaved into its walls, that notion of rediscovery is no more evident than at Chepstow Castle. Beautifully preserved and stretching out along a limestone cliff above the River Wye, Chepstow Castle’s beauty is matched only by its historical significance.

Indeed, there’s simply no better example in Britain of how castles gradually evolved to cope with increasingly destructive weaponry and the lofty ambitions of their owners which, over the course of six centuries, included some of the richest and most powerful men of the medieval and Tudor ages.

The Castle’s mighty doors illustrate these lofty ambitions; sheathed in iron plates to prevent attackers burning or battering them down, they were the craftmanship of William Marshal. Despite the many luminaries and royal patrons to have passed through those very doors – including Eleanor of Aquitaine, Prince Henry, and Richard the Lionheart – it’s Marshal’s name and preservation work that still resonates most today.

Because – from building Britain's very first twin-towered gatehouse to a second line of defence; from raising the height of the Norman walls to erecting a massive rectangular tower – Marshal was, in many ways, the first-ever Cadw member.

Turning a tired Castle into a formidable fortress, there’s no doubting Marshal’s dedication to and pride in conserving the legacy of what was a crucial gateway to Wales. A legacy which, by becoming a Cadw member, you can also help proudly protect.