Usk Castle

Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, South Wales, about 15 miles north-east of Newport, which is built n the site of a Roman fort. It’s castle dates from around 1120 and it is assumed that it was built by the Clares of Chepstow. It is first recorded in 1138 when it was captured by the Welsh, a fate which was to happen again in 1174 and 1184. Initially the castle was a wooden construction, but it was strengthened by Richard FitzGilbert de Clare (d1176), 2nd earl of Pembroke, and he possibly added a stone tower keep. From the Clares, the ownership of the castle descended to William Marshal, earl of Pembroke (d1219) who added masonry walls and towers. The castle passed through his daughter Isabel to Gilbert de Clare, 5th earl of Gloucester (d1230). His great-grandson Gilbert, the 8th and last earl, was killed at Bannockburn in 1314. Gilbert’s extensive estates were then shared among his three sisters, with both Clare and Usk castles passing to Elizabeth de Clare (d1360). Her first husband was John de Burgh (d1313) and Usk passed to their son William Donn de Burgh (d1333) who was 3rd earl of Ulster. His granddaughter Philippa, 5th Countess of Ulster, was the daughter of Lionel, Duke of Clarence and, on her marriage in 1369 to Edmund, 3rd earl of March, Clare castle passed to the Mortimers. In 1402 and1405, the town of Usk was devastated by forces of Owain Glyn Dwr, but the castle seems to have survived. Usk and Clare were the last castles to be acquired by the Mortimers.