Holt Castle

Holt Castle
Castell Holt
Part of the County Borough of Wrexham
Holt, Wales
Holt Castle remnants
Site information
TypePentagonal enclosure castle
Open to the public
Yes
ConditionComplete ruin. Nothing remains of the castle except a few examples of masonry.
Location
Location in Wales
Holt Castle is located in Wales
Holt Castle
Holt Castle
Location within Wales
Coordinates53°04′41″N 2°52′49″W / 53.077919°N 2.880256°W / 53.077919; -2.880256
HeightUp to 10 metres (33 ft)
Site history
Builtc. 1282–1311
Built byJohn de Warenne
MaterialsSandstone
Demolished1675–1683
Battles/warsAttacked during the uprising of Owain Glyndŵr
EventsWelsh Wars

Holt Castle (Welsh: Castell Holt) was a medieval castle on the Welsh–English border, by the banks of the River Dee, in the village of Holt, Wrexham County Borough, Wales. Work began on the castle in the 13th century during the Welsh Wars.

In the medieval period, the five-towered fortress was actually known as Castrum Leonis or Castle Lyons because it had a lion motif carved into the stonework above its main gate. In the 17th century, almost all the stonework was removed from the site; only the sandstone foundation and a small amount of masonry survives.