Holt Castle

Set in the attractive planned village of Holt, Holt Castle is a ruin on the banks of the River Dee.

Background History

Following the defeat of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd, the last independent Prince of Wales in 1282, Edward I gave John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey, the lordship of Bromfield and Yale. To secure his newly gained lands, John built Holt Castle, also known as Lion's Castle, to control a nearby strategic ford across the River Dee. John de Warenne's successor, also John, was leader of the English forces in Scotland. In 1296 he defeated the Red Comyn and the Scottish forces at the Battle of Dunbar and deposed the Scottish King John Balliol. Edward I made de Warenne Regent of Scotland. It was a job that only brought him trouble. William Wallace led a revolt and defeated de Warenne and the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge on September 11th 1296. De Warenne was forced to flee the field of battle and make his excuses to Edward I "Longshanks".

A long siege during the Civil War heralded the decline of the Castle and many of its stones were later robbed by Thomas Grosvenor to build the original Eaton Hall near Chester. The site is still worth a visit, if only for its picturesque location next to the River Dee! Nearby is the attractive late mediaeval bridge that spans the English-Welsh border.