21 May 2026 Abergavenny and the White Castle
Today was moving day from Gloucestershire to Talgarth, Powys, Wales. I promised my daughter Alex that someday we would do Wales together, so please don't get mad if I dip into Far Eastern Wales for a few stops through the Borderlands between Wales and Herefordshire. Specifically, the Wye River Valley, where I was yesterday.
I had originally sought to visit Raglan Castle and Usk Castle, but that didn't happen. Usk Castle is privately owned, and even though I know the name of the owner, and had an endorsement to see it from one of my contacts at Tewkesbury Abbey, they never responded to my e-mails through their website, and I could not get their phone number to work on my phone, so I didn't even attempt it. maybe i can go by there and raglan Castle with Alex someday when we come back and do Wales. Raglan Castle's website said they had something going on at the castle from 10-22 May, and that it was closed to the public.
Ok, straight to Abergavenny. Two places in this town of interest, Abergavenny Castle, which is also part of the Museum there, is in ruins, but some interesting stuff happened there, and one of my ancestors was born there. Joan Beauchamp, Countess Ormond, was born there in 1400. Her father, William Beauchamp, was given Abergavenny Castle in 1389.
The second event that took place at Abergavenny Castle involved another one of my ancestors, William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber. If you ever saw Game of Thrones, and remember the Red Wedding where Robb and Caitlin Stark were killed by the Freys, then you have to know that George R.R. Martin, when writing his books, used the Christmas Massacre of Abergavenny in 1175 as his inspiration for the Red Wedding.
I had to blow the picture up to maximum size the hope that you all can read what happened. If not, here it goes. Christmas Day, 1175, William De Braose invited his long standing Welsh Rival Seiswyl ap Dyfnwal and his men to dinner. While unarmed and enjoying their feast, De Braose's soldiers entered the Great Hall, and slaughtered them all. For this, William de Braose became known as "The Ogre of Abergavenny". True story.
The next Abergavenny stop was the Priory of St Mary. This Church is as old as the Castle, and was built around the same time period. What makes it so special in reference to my ancestry, are the well preserved tombs inside.
Two of the tombs are directly related to me. Eva de Braose was my 22nd Great Grandmother, and the wife of William de Cantilupe VI, 3rd Baron Abergavenny and Baron of Totnes. Here she is below:
The other tomb includes Gwladys Verch Dafydd and her husband, Sir William ap Thomas Herbert.
Their son, William Herbert, is was supposed to be buried there near them, but a funny thing happened on the way to his burial. He was Earl of Pembroke during the War of the Roses (The White Queen miniseries on Showtime). At the Battle of Edgcote, he was captured by the Earl of Warwick's rebel forces, and executed three days after the battle. His brother Richard also lost his life at this Battle. As the wagon train was taking the two brothers bodies to be laid to rest next the their mother and father, the Monks at Tintern Abbey intecepted them, and took William's body to be buried there. Of course, if he had been allowed to be buried at St Marys, I would have been able to find it, since there are no graves, tombs, or headstones at Tintern anymore.
The last stop was to White Castle. This is the second of the three castles given to Hugh de Burgh by King John in Monmouthshire to help conquer Wales. Originally made of Wood, De Burgh transformed these three castle into stone fortresses. What makes White Castle different, is that it actually had a drawbridge and a water filled deep moat. It was very big, built to receive and maintain a large Army, although much of it has been destroyed (again, Oliver Cromwell).
The only ancestor that I am aware of to have anything to do with White Castle was Owain Glyndwr ap Gruffydd, who instigated a Welsh revolt and attached the castle in 1404-5. His claim to fame was that he was the last Welshman to lay claim to the title Prince of Wales.
On Sunday the 24th of May, I plan on visiting the last of the three Castles, Grosmont Castle. Then I will have completed that Triple Crown. Don't we all wish we had a guy in our family tree with a great beard like old Owain did?
