The twin towered gatehouse, which stands on the west side of the triangular inner
ward, is the dominant feature of the castle. According to a record of 1336, its construction
was begun in the reign of Edward II (1307-27) but it was not completed until 1349.
Much later, about 1500, it was altered by Sir Rhys ap Thomas who inserted the large
windows, as by then defence was of less importance than comfort. The gatehouse towers
are semi-octagonal outside and rectangular internally and have latrine shafts on
the north and south which may be later insertions. In the floor of the north gatehouse
room is a manhole cover which blocks the slanting entrance passage of an extraordinary
well-preserved vaulted cellar. Access to the upper floor of the gatehouse was via
an external stair adjacent to the east wall of the north tower, which may have also
served as an access stair to the wall-walk on the curtain wall.
South of the gatehouse are two blocks of masonry which belonged to a square tower,
probably 14th-century in date like the gatehouse. A length of ruinous curtain wall
runs from the tower along the south side of the inner ward for some 23m. The inner
ward curtain wall followed the slope of the promontory and further fragmentary sections
have been excavated at the east end. From a survey of 1532 we know that the hall
lay near the gatehouse, probably on the south side. The survey further tells of a
chapel which adjoined the hall and lay at first-floor level over a kitchen and larder.
Another large building was apparently situated on the eastern side of the castle.
No traces of these buildings remain above ground level.
