Question #17

"I replaced a castle that's not too far away (as the crow flies). I'd be lion if I told you there was a lot to explore at my site, although a survey in the late 16th century shows that my impressive towers and walls were still mostly intact then. What castle am I and can you explain my clues?"

Yes, the correct answer is HOLT CASTLE!

Holt Castle was built in the late 13th to early 14th century by John de Warren, who was granted the area following Edward's victory over the Welsh in 1282/3. The castle replaced nearby Dinas Bran (sometimes called "Crow Castle") and featured impressive drum towers connected by a curtain wall.

Holt was often referred to as "Chastellion" or "Castrum Leonis" from the lion sculpture above its gateway ("I'd be lion"). Although a survey of 1562 tells us that Holt was still a substantial ruin at that time, it was later dismantled and almost all the stonework was removed between 1675 and 1683 for the construction of Eaton Hall about 5 miles downstream. One of the photos featured on the Holt Castle page is a scan of an antiquary drawing made of the site prior to the castle's demise.