The Early Middle Ages fortress, which is now little more than ditches and mounds, was made of wood and constructed on a massive rock outcrop in what is now the suburbs of modern-day Llandudno. Traditionally, it was the headquarters of Maelgwn Gwynedd, King of Gwynedd (fl. c. 520–547). A nearby hill is called Bryn Maelgwyn and other places in the locality are associated with him. An important coin hoard of 204 Silver Cnut pennies was found on Bryn Maelgwyn in July 1979.
Ruins and features of the main entrance to Deganwy Castle seen from one of the "towers"
Deganwy was probably first occupied during the Roman period, but was popular in the years following their departure because it was safe from Irish raids. The area beneath the rocky stronghold may have been the site of a settlement of serfs. The stronghold was burned down in 812 when it was struck by lightning.[3]
By the 13th century, Deganwy was fortified by the prince of WalesLlywelyn ab Iorwerth. It was captured by the earl of Chester in 1210, but recaptured shortly afterward by Llywelyn, who had it refortified in stone.[4]
Between 1961 and 1966 Leslie Alcock led excavations at Deganwy Castle. The programme of work was planned by the University of Wales and funded by the Board of Celtic Studies and the Caernarvonshire Historical Society.[5]
During the excavations a dozen sherds of early medieval pottery which had been imported from the Mediterranean were discovered indicating the far-reaching contacts of Gwynedd's royal dynasty.
In 2009, the Gwynedd Archaeological Trust carried out a geophysical survey of the bailey between the two hills and land immediately north and south of the castle.[6]
Alcock, Leslie (1968). "Excavations at Degannwy Castle, Caernarfonshire, 1961–6". The Archaeological Journal. 124: 190–201. doi:10.1080/00665983.1967.11078309.
Jones, Craig (2022). Princely Ambition: Ideology, castle-building, and landscape in Gwynedd, 1194-1283. University of Hertfordshire Press. ISBN978-1-912260-27-0.
