Llansteffan Castle

Llansteffan Castle is a substantial and impressive ruin dating from the 12th to the 15th centuries, consisting of a small Inner Ward and a spacious Outer Ward, both protected by stone defenses. The Inner Ward, or Upper Ward, is largely ruined, with the most significant remaining feature being the tall, square Inner Gate. This 13th-century gatehouse originally had three storeys, with pointed arched entrances on the north and south sides. Portcullis grooves and bar holes are still visible. A chamber above was accessed by a now-lost wall-walk, and the upper floor reached from there via a stair. Foundations remain of an Inner Curtain and Round Tower that may have been removed as early as the 15th century. Recent archaeological excavations uncovered the foundations of several domestic buildings within this ward. A section of curtain wall survives to the west, reinforced by a short row of vaults, likely constructed in the 13th century when a new wall-walk was added.

The Outer Ward retains external curtain walls on three sides. The principal building is an impressive three-storey, 13th-century gatehouse, possibly inspired by designs at the Inner East Gatehouse at Caerphilly. The entrance has a segmental arch, blocked in the 15th century, flanked by a pair of D-plan towers. A smaller arch was inserted to the rear, within the earlier arched head, and the remainder blocked with stone. Evenly spaced windows have fragments of tracery. Small drum towers are positioned at the angles of the courtyard elevation, containing newel stairs. Attached to the east is a 15th-century entrance, with a simple arched entry having a single portcullis groove. The first floor is slightly corbelled out, with little of the upper level surviving.

The D-shaped west tower is in a very ruinous state, with a barrel vault to the ground floor and a heated upper storey chamber. The east bastion is simply a reinforcement of the southeast angle, with no internal structural elements visible. A large D-plan north tower, between the east bastion and the gate, formerly housed the principal apartments. A polygonal turret on the outer face contains a stair. The interior is a shell. The ground and first floors have separate entrances from the ward; the ground floor lacks a fireplace. The first floor has a fireplace and a garderobe to the west. A stair leads from the first floor to a similar upper storey. Two carved corbels remain, formerly supporting roof trusses. Remains of a post-medieval barn survive between the north tower and the east bastion, possibly replacing an earlier hall range.

The ground floor of the gatehouse retains a massive barrel vault to the former gate passage, featuring two portcullis slots and murder holes. Flanking chambers are also barrel-vaulted, with arrow loops facing north. A fireplace is located in the east room. Modern timber steps provide access from the west to the first floor. This level contains a single large chamber, now lacking a ceiling. A fireplace is positioned on the south side, and loops with squinted embrasures face north, above the entrance. Access is provided to a newel stair in the south turrets. The second floor retains traces of a formerly ornate and massive 16th-century hooded fireplace, with large corbels bearing carved heads. Small, barrel-vaulted latrines are located off the newel stair to the east. A stair gives access to the former roof and battlement, now gone.