Painscastle Castle
Painscastle (Welsh Castell Paun) is a castle in Powys in mid Wales and also a village which takes its name from the castle. It lies between Builth and Hay-on-Wye, approximately 3 miles from the England Wales border today.
Early history
The first castle was built by Pain Fitz John, probably about 1130. The site was probably what remained of a much earlier Roman fort, so naturally defensible. The ground plan is rectangular and Roman artifacts have been found at the site.
Pain fitz John was killed by a Welsh raiding party in 1137 and the area was taken over by the native Welsh ruler of Elfael, Madog ab Idnerth.
Recapture & Refortification
The castle remained in Welsh hands until about 1195 when the area was captured by William de Braose, 7th Baron Abergavenny, who refortified the castle. His formidable wife Maud, also known as Matilda, held Painscastle against the Welsh.
Welsh sieges
In 1196 Rhys ap Gruffydd of Deheubarth defeated the Marcher Lords in a battle at Radnor 8 miles to the north and also besieged Painscastle, but did not actually take it as terms were agreed. In 1198 Gwenwynwyn ab Owain of Powys raised a large army to besiege the castle, but was heavily defeated by an army led by the local Justiciar, Geoffrey fitz Peter.
Baronial conflict
William de Braose fell out with king John of England in 1208 and was forced to flee the kingdom. King John held his lands and castles until Painscastle was apparently occupied by Iorwerth Clud, a Welsh de Braose ally, in 1215. He submitted to King John in 1216 and wes granted the Lordship of Elfael until his death in 1222. The Welsh then transferred their allegiance back to Llywelyn ap Iorwerth and the castle was attacked and destroyed by the Welsh.
Campaign against Llywelyn the Great
In 1231 the castle was rebuilt in stone by King Henry III of England and Hubert de Burgh as part of a campaign against Llywelyn the Great. In 1233 the castle was claimed by Ralf Tosny, whose family held it until the castle was taken by Llywelyn the Last from Roger Tosny in 1265. A Ralph Tosny was able to recover and rebuild it in 1276.
It later passed to the Beauchamp dynasty's hands, Earls of Warwick.
Owain Glyndwr
Painscastle was refortified yet again at the time of the Welsh rebellion in 1401 while under the Beauchamps for the King, Henry IV.
Today
Little now remains of the castle other than the massive earthworks.