Is this abandoned castle the best kept secret in Flintshire?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ธ.ค. 2022
- Flint is a small, functional town in North East Wales.
Thousands of tourists pass through every year on their way to places such as Prestatyn and Rhyl.
Few will be aware of the stunning Flint Castle, hidden from view as they pass through Flint.
Join me for a tour along with some fascination facts about the history of this abandoned castle.
Very much worth visiting, it's outstanding features include the recently installed spiral staircase to a lofty viewing platform with stunning, expansive views along the Dee estuary and the town of Flint.
The donjon is a feature unique to castles in the UK.
The castle was commissioned by King Edward I of England. It was the first fortification in his "ring of iron" which was intended to control and subdue the Welsh.
The castle was slighted after the English Civil War, on the instructions of Oliver Cromwell.
The ruins which we see today are little changed for almost 400 years.
If you're new to my channel, welcome and I hope you stay around!
I have many plans for forthcoming videos, based in Flintshire, North Wales, North West England and further afield.
I know that my videography and microphone skills need to improve massively, but hey, we all gotta start somewhere!
If you'd like to follow in our footsteps by visiting Flint Castle, some useful information is on our website at www.haveagrandtour.co.uk/gt-e...
As an American I visited England once, but that was 4 decades ago. I would like to return soon as I am interested in the history of castles like this one and the cathedrals.
They do make a good theme for touring. There's over 4,000 castles in the UK in various states of repair. Some such as Prestatyn Castle are nothing more than a grassy mound and some are immaculate stately homes still lived in.
Thank you for this, I enjoyed your informative tour of Flint Castle and its history. Your enthusiasm for this topic shone through and I learned a lot from your (especially neat to learn about the donjon). I have limited time to visit North Wales on an upcoming trip, but I think you may have swayed me to find a way to squeeze a visit here into my itinerary!
Glad you enjoyed it! - many thanks!
Excellent video and very informative! Looks like an impressive castle that is well worth a visit. Cheers!
Glad you enjoyed it
I enjoyed your video and have subscribed to your channel! I am from Kansas, USA, and I have wanted to visit England, Wales, Scotland, and the surrounding areas ever since I was a little kid, so I appreciate your videos very much! I love history, and TH-cam is a wonderful way to travel, until I am able to visit properly! :) Thank you so very much for your time, beautiful videos, and history lesson about the castle!! :) - Elsie xxx
Thankyou very much for your comment! I have many more similar planned and which I'm working on!
John
What a lovely video! Beautifully shot and narrated. As a local may I say you have done an excellent job.
Thankyou very much. This comment means a lot!
I've been through Flintshire loans of times over the years, and I never thought of visiting the castle.
It is well worth taking a break to have a look around!
Thanks for taking us along. Lovely and interesting!
Thanks for watching!
I'm working on more similar!
Great video. I live just a few miles away in Connah’s Quay and it’s nice to see someone putting a spotlight on Flint Castle. It has always been a bit forgotten compared to Edward I’s other much grander castles such as Caernarfon, Conwy and Beaumaris. I first went there when I was in Primary School when we were learning about Edward I’s castles and I’ve been fascinated by history ever since.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I've made videos about another 2 local castles.
Ewloe Castle which was purely Welsh built and most definitely a "Welsh" castle.
Caergwrle Castle which was Welsh built and perhaps the last Welsh built castle of that era, but has a twist to the tale. The English Kings and Welsh Princes were not always fighting against each other. Sometimes, they were quite friendly. In fact, Edward helped financially to build Caergwrle Castle. Sadly, there was then a disagreement and Edward eventually claimed Caergwrle as his own castle.
I recently learned that my ancestors were from Wales. Love learning about my heritage.
Thankyou!
Fascinating, thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it!
A splendid place!
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Cheers for the video from Neston.
Glad you enjoyed it
Very informative and well presented . Thank you !!
Thankyou for the kind comment!
Beautiful video! Thanks for the grand tour!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thoroughly enjoyed from beginning to end, I'm subscriber number 7 I can see you reaching millions mate; great work :)
Thankyou very much for the kind words!
I really enjoyed your video. I most likely will not ever be able to visit in person. I am grateful to see it with your help.
I liked the view from the top of the spiral stairs . 👍 Nice
You are so welcome!
Such a beautiful video! The castle is breathtaking, and the history fascinating. Thank you!'😍
Thankyou very much! I'm working on a number of other videos about hidden and secret castles not far from here. I agree the history is fascinating. I enjoy discovering the links. For example, Flint castle was supposedly built by an English King to defeat the Welsh, but who would have thought the castle would be inspired by French castles or have had French people in charge of its design and build over 800 years ago.
That was an interesting Short Tour.
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Grander Tours are in the process of being made!
An excellent video. Very well presented and informative. I live in North Wales and intend to visit this castle as soon as I can! Keep up the good work.
Glad it was helpful!
Living not that far away, I had no idea there was a castle in Flint.
Thanks for your film. I'll pay a visit!
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I just might pay a visit myself on a nice summer day, thank you for a very pleasant and informative video, I look forward to hearing more from you.
Thankyou for the kind words!
I've already visited Caergwrle Castle in another video and I'm currently working on a third nearby Flintshire castle which is well worth visiting. Combined together, the 3 castles would make for a splendid, low cost day out for anyone who enjoys some walking and adventuring in the local area!
Great video. Although I live not far from Flint and have been through the town I have never been to the castle but after watching your video I really must go. Thanks for all the information.
You should!
Great place for a picnic!
Great video and explanation.. thank you :)
Glad you enjoyed it!
Brilliant video, extremely informative. I live locally to Flint and I agree the castle is a hidden gem- particularly owing to it's unusual design that is often overlooked in favour of its flashier Edwardian neighbours! Next time you're up this way I thoroughly recommend Ewloe castle, a Welsh castle tucked away inside some woods (Wepre park - a council owned park) and scene of a 13th century battle. Happy touring!
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for such an informative video. Great effort. Greetings from Downunder
My pleasure
I have visited flint castle and many other castles in Wales a very enjoyable video thank you
Many thanks
Thanks for that it will be going on my to do list.
Hope you enjoy it!
Enjoyed the history and you telling it. Great job!!! Lake Orion, Michigan U.S.A.
Thankyou for the kind comment!
I know that my channel is very small compared with many other youtube channels, but I am completely "blown away" by just how successful this particular video has been. It is inspiring me to work harder and to bring more videos to youtube!
John!
When on our way to Prestatyn we’ve enjoyed fish and chips from the Chippy near the Castle and parked along the Castle while we ate them.
I do think that in many ways, Flint is a great stop over point for travelling into the North Wales coast. As you say, the chippy is great. But there are enough take aways in Flint to keep just about everyone happy! Sandwich shops, bakers, chippies and even supermarkets where you can buy the stuff to make up a picnic.
The castle is a fantastic, relaxing place to picnic.
Good informative video. All the buisness with Richard 2nd and Bollingbrook. Its mentioned in Shakespeare's Richard 2nd. Including flint and its castles! Also the 2 flats you can see behind the castle, one is called Richard, the other is Bolingbroke!
Thanks for sharing!
The 3rd block of flats is called Castle Heights!
Thank you. Very interesting.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Interesting video - thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
Welldone Sir!
Many thanks!
I love the area - I hope I can get back there and see it all again
👍 Fingers crossed!
very interesting
Glad you think so!
Thats a very nice video. Shame about the tower block. I wasnt expecting that !
Flint is home to 3 tower blocks in total! They are named "Richard Heights", "Bolingbroke Heights" and "Castle Heights" in a nod to the Flint Castle and its historical William Shakespeare connection. It was mentioned in the Shakespeare play "Richard II" during a scene about Richard II fatefully meeting with Henry Bolingbroke at Flint Castle.
These concrete towers were built in the 1960s during the wave of brutalist architecture, social housing and slum clearances which swept much of Britain.
I think that they are a symbol of how many ordinary, working people lived in the small area of historically important industrial landscape in Flintshire.
I'll be returning to Flint in a future video to explore what remains of the old industries - I'm building a list of surprising connections and facts!
Nice 👍
Thanks ✌
You have a good voice ... well scripted ... keep going chap! From NZ
Thankyou!
You've helped to inspire me to keep going!
Nice way of making the video and making people aware of the castle and its basic construction. I live not far away and have visited Flint Castle a number of times, and have even climbed the new metal stairway, though coming down was one of the hardest things ever.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great video 🇦🇺
Thanks 👍
@@GTexplores
Yeah nah.. thank you
There's another castle in the next town of Connah's Quay set back a mile into Wepre woods. It's called Ewloe castle . Has a great back story too...!
There is!
I've visited over the past 3 weeks and am currently putting together a video!
very in formative
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Nicely done 👏, just down the road 😁
Like deployed 👍
Thanks 👍
@@GTexplores 🎶on platform 2 for the next train to Crewe at Flint Station by the Castle🎶 Cuthrol (Cythrel) 😁
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Stumbled across Flint Castle back in 2019 during the time we were allowed to travel a bit. Was staying on the Wirral for a few days (we are from Liverpool) and went exploring. We found it a bit funny that it's sat there with a housing estate literally over the road. We were made up we found it by chance; great little find. We need to go back with the kids.
Halton Castle (Runcorn) is on the to-do list. Have you been there?
2020* COVID times when certain travel was allowed again.
The housing estate is on land which when the castle was built, would have been part of the settlement connected with the castle. This extended to the far end of the High Street and was surrounded by a defensive / protective ditch. Historians carried out extensive "digs" just before new housing was built both close to the top of High Street, and close to the mini roundabout when entering Flint.
In the 1800s, the railway cut the original "town" into 2 parts.
On a similar theme, I've just published a video about Prestatyn where there is the remains of a Roman Bath House right in the middle of a modern housing estate!
Halton Castle is on my list, as are many more castles. I do think that castles and similar will become a regular part of my channel.
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@@GTexplores Fascinating. Thank you very much for all your efforts.
Have you seen this? Somebody has generated a reconstruction of how the Castle would have looked in 1300AD... It's amazing: th-cam.com/video/UCH8__sZ5uw/w-d-xo.html
well done sir nice video shame it was slighted so badly.
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Excellent Castle totally original well worth the drop in on the way to or from the more famous of many brilliant historical strongholds neaded because of the steel determined Welsh Warrior's encountered. They are after all quite an anceint civilization not the first humans their, because their ancestors took it from prehistoric people's. I love Wales
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Btw your voice sounds like The lakes writer Alfred Wainwright lol
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Type in flint through the ages there's a few clicks reconstructions Inc how flint and Castle looked in 1300 ad
Thanks!
To find ancient castle, turn left at Aldi.
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Have you done Rhuddllan castle as in the middle of the castle there is a kind of well where people were thrown into the lions or other wild animals . Also there is supposed to be a tunnel from the castle leading to a church in St Asaph from Henry VIII time but nobody has ever found it . Also years ago i went out one night where i was living with some people who i was living with and they did all held hands around the well except for me as i started to all run past me they said that they all heard screaming from the well and when i climbed the wall to get out i told them what that well was for that is why i did not join them as i have seen ghosts so i wasn't going to play there game by holding hands in a circle .
Thankyou for the comment. I've visited Rhuddlan Castle several years ago but it is on my list for later this year (it closes during the winter season).
I'm always interested in myths, legends and haunty stuff, but it's not to everyones taste. However, I'm already planning a Halloween Special to cover some of that!
@@GTexplores That be interesting the Halloween as that is where i seen my first ghost when i was 6 . It was a black cat of all things . As it jumped out of the window without breaking the glass.
The dongeon tower is south east not north.
Correct, it's always good to see if anyone is paying attention!
Generally enjoyed this film, but your thumbnail description of Flint Castle being "abandoned" is clearly not true. As you stated in your commentary it is administered by CADW which is like a Welsh version of English Heritage. It is free admission, which is great, and an essential stop if you're doing a Welsh castle tour. There's an excellent footpath around what was once Flint Dock, and then beyond along the Dee Estuary.
Interesting comment, thankyou!
Firstly, I agree that there is an interesting footpath around the (abandoned?) Flint Dock where there are also 2 cast iron sluice gate valve head gears made by Blakeborough of Brighouse.
But the footpath and docks must wait for further videos (which are indeed planned).
Secondly, I agree that Flint Castle is no longer "abandoned" in the sense that it is now in the care of CADW.
However, it certainly was once abandoned and even today it no longer serves it's original function.
Thankyou, and your comments ARE welcome!
Thank you. Your promotion of our local history is also welcome. But historically Flint Castle was "slighted", not abandoned and there has always been a claim on the site. Today, the fact that it is not a garrisoned fortress does not indicate abandonment. The structure is maintained for safety, the history is explained to visitors via signage, the grass is cut and it's locked at night. @@GTexplores
You have a n interesting accent, where are you from if you dont mind telling me
Yorkshire born and bread, but I left Yorkshire some 20 years ago and have lived / worked in many different places since then, so I guess my accent is now getting very mixed up!
Both car parks are free
Thanks for the update!
Mmmmmmm... 🤔🤔🤔
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English Civil War gets another one
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Destroy all the jolly old English castles here in Wales. Our own native castles are being left to rot!! But the colonisers castles are loved by everyone except us Cymry!!
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No. No it’s not.
Hmmm....
Well, I guess you are right and it is no longer a secret!
well done, my good man, well done. wouldn't have known you were a complete amateur had you not said it.
Thankyou. I prefer to be honest!
Happy weekend! i really enjoyed this lovely video,hope you have a amazing 2023 debs fan xx 🏔........
Thankyou very much. Your support is appreciated. When I made this video, I expected that it would be seen by 1 person. I hoped that within a few years it might be viewed by a dozen people. Over 400 views so far. Thankyou for your contribution!
@@GTexplores my pleasure you have a lovely channel debs xx