Some Interesting Historical Information about Knighton in Wales

Take a walk through the ages in Knighton and explore the ancient history.

Knighton, the town on the Dyke, with its noble history and amazing trails, is a paradise for hikers, cyclists, and walkers.

It’s All in the Name

The Welsh name is Tref-y-clawdd or Trefyclo, which in English means the town on the Dyke. This quaint market town is on the banks of the River Teme, which forms the border between England and Wales. 

The name Knighton is said to be a derivative of the old English “cniht” being a soldier, thane or freeman and “tūn”, which is a farm or settlement.

History and Intrigue

Some of Knighton's early history is rather vague. The intriguing Caer Caradoc or in English an Iron Age Hill Fort associated with Caradoc or Caractacus is just 2 miles away. 

Watling Street is an ancient Roman road, which passes a few kilometres  to the east. Settlements in the Knighton area have been said to belong to the Iron Age kingdom of Cornovii. 

Just think about the people who may have travelled the road and lived in the area. 

This town boasts English and Welsh history at its best. Discover and enjoy as you explore and sightsee.

All Paths Lead to Knighton

With its many paths, including two-bridle paths as well as footpaths, Knighton offers breathtaking views, fresh air, pure freedom and relaxation in every corner. 

Historians, astronomers, explorers, hikers, cyclists and walkers are in for a treat when visiting Knighton. This mediaeval market town has gradually grown into the quaint border town it is today.

A Reflection of History Surrounded by Ancient Beauty

Offa and his Dyke – A Display of Knighton’s Architecture through Time

Explore the legacy of King Offa and his Dyke. 

The dyke was a defence structure stretching across England from the Welsh border to the North Sea.

Originally an Anglo-Saxon settlement, Knighton is located on a preserved section of Offa's Dyke, the ancient earthwork that divided the two countries. The Offa’s Dyke structure is named after Offa, the Anglo-Saxon king of Mercia, who reigned from  757-796 AD . He is documented to have been instrumental in its construction. 

Approximately 1200 years ago, Offa was king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. He reigned from 757 to 796, this was considered a long reign during those times. 

Mercia became the most powerful kingdom in Britain under Offa’s reign. Mercia itself roughly covered what we today call ‘the Midlands,’ although King Offa also reigned over Kent, Sussex, London and East Anglia. There are a few different stories surrounding Offa’s Dyke, mainly because it all happened so long ago and record keeping was nowhere near what it is today. 

Only about 80 miles of it still remain. Bishop Asser, writing in his Life of King Alfred, 100 years later, mentioned “a great dyke built between Wales and Mercia from sea to sea” which would make it nearly 180 miles long.  

There are no known remnants or evidence on or in the ground today of it being as long as reported. 1200 years of erosion, as well as farming and development, has taken its toll.  

Knighton is the only town that lies on the line of Dyke. With no timber palisades, it was a very big area to defend. Maybe, it was a deterrent as well as a frontier wall. Comparing it to the Great Pyramids is a bit of a stretch but like the pyramids, we have to marvel at the amount of effort and manpower that went into the wall’s construction without any modern machinery.

Offa’s Dyke is now a renowned walk taking the average person about 2 weeks to complete.

Discoveries and Treasures

In 2009, a member of the Bloxwich Research and Metal Detecting Club, Terry Herbert, came across this incredible discovery of gold artefacts while he was searching an area near Hammerwich with a metal detector.  Over the next few days, 244 gold objects were recovered from the grounds. 

Castles

Two Norman castles, from the 12th and 13th centuries, are the oldest surviving structures in modern-day Knighton. Like many historical accuracies or inaccuracies in various areas, there are conflicting stories about both castles.

In 1203, Knighton became a borough and in 1262 Knighton Castle was captured and destroyed by Llywelyn ap Gruffyd.

Bryn y Castell, the one surviving castle in Knighton, was attacked by Owain Glyndŵr in 1402 and destroyed along with most of the town. Information on hand pertaining to the defence of Knighton during the Glyndwr rebellion state that Knighton had stout and defensible walls. With no evidence, it is more likely that the statement referred to the castle walls rather than the town walls.

Visit The Hopton Castle Ruins and Explore the Past 

The ruins of the mediaeval Hopton Castle are situated in a peaceful and picturesque location. It is not easy to imagine the violence it witnessed during the English Civil War in 1644. The castle became an outlying garrison of the Parliamentary force holding Brampton Bryan Castle.

Samuel More was taken prisoner and the rest of his soldiers were killed. In the 17th century, the killing of prisoners who had refused to surrender was accepted. It seems very barbaric to us, but we are talking about the 1600s.  

Explore the Hopton Castle ruins and for a minute imagine life back then. 

King Arthur, a Famous Welsh Legend

King Arthur’s marriage to Guinevere was said to be held at Knucklas Castle. Various scholars in the 14th, 15th and 16th century connected King Arthur to Knucklas Castle. It is said that the castle had been known as ‘Castell Pendragon,’ which was Arthur’s family name. Guinevere was the daughter of the giant, Gogfran Gawr, and that her brothers had been kidnapped by other giants. Arthur allegedly killed the giants and freed her brothers. Arthur and Guinevere travelled to Knucklas Castle and got married.

Knighton with a Rich History of Old Churches

Knighton has a couple of old churches, one dating back to the 11th century, although due to age and damage, much of it was rebuilt in the 19th century. The church was dedicated to St Edward who was the patron saint of England before St George. This English dedication was notable for the English/Welsh nature of the town, which was not legally resolved until 1535. Knighton was finally confirmed as part of Wales by the Acts of Union. 

Owain Glyndŵr and the Battle of Pilleth

Of the many military leaders who have battled over this border landscape, few are better known in Wales than Owain Glyndŵr. Known to the English as Owen Glendower, in the early 15th century, Glyndŵr led a campaign against the rule of the English King Henry IV. And this is how he secured himself a place in the history books.

In the battle of Pilleth in 1402, Glyndŵr famously defeated the forces of the powerful Marcher Lord Edmund Mortimer. Mortimer, captured by Glyndŵr, then changed sides, made an alliance with his captor and even married one of his daughters. Glyndŵr was eventually defeated, and he disappeared without a trace.

  

Rest in Peace

In the late 19th century, a local landowner, Sir Richard Green-Price, discovered human remains on the hill above St Mary’s Church at Pilleth. A square patch of fir trees was planted to mark the spot where he presumed the dead of the battle to lie. The trees are now a local landmark.

Today, Glyndŵr’s name lives on, not just through Glyndŵr’s Way, and Shakespeare, but also through the Owain Glyndŵr Society, which commemorated the 600th anniversary of his revolt in 2000.

Tales, Myths and Legends - The Dragon, the Forest, and the Archangel

The Archangel St Michael is said to have fought a heavenly war. According to this myth, the area needed protection as a dragon lived within the Radnor Forest, and the five St Michael churches surrounded it, namely the “Radnor Ring.”

Knighton retains and shows off its historical charm and acts as a popular gateway between England and Wales.

Conveniently located in the centre of the town stands The Knighton Hotel, a prime choice for hotels in Mid Wales. This gorgeous hotel fits perfectly into its surroundings. The Knighton Hotel offers visitors and guests a perfect place to “set up base” while they explore the wonders around Knighton, hotels in Mid Wales, and the bordering towns and villages.

This town boasts Welsh history at its best surrounded by untouched nature. Discover and enjoy as you explore and sightsee.