THE old expression ‘if walls could talk’ could be aptly used to describe many buildings across Powys.

Indeed with more than 70 Grade I listed buildings scattered across the county, many Powysians are never more than a walk away from history.

Together these buildings provide the patchwork of not only the history of Powys, but the entire country.

The County Times shares a few of our treasured monuments.

Dolforwyn Castle - Llandyssil

The fortification was established by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd, Prince of Gwynedd in the late 13th century.

It is sited on a wooded ridge commanding views of the upper Severn Valley.

The castle had a keep and towers and divided into two wards by a rock cut ditch with a two storey structure built against the north wall and two gateways at the west and southern castle walls.

Dolforwyn Castle. Picture: Llywellyn 2000/Wiki Commons.

Dolforwyn Castle. Picture: Llywellyn 2000/Wiki Commons.

Dolforwyn Castle.

Why is it historic?

The castle was built between 1273 and 1277 by Llewellyn ap Gruffudd, the Prince of Wales.

The castle had been a show of strength after King Henry III had been forced to recognize the Prince of Gwynedd as sovereign of all Wales.

However his successor, King Edward I, had not recognised Llewellyn nor the building of unauthorised construction of Dolforwyn, a valley away from his own frontier castle at Montgomery.

Dolforwyn was besieged by the armies of Roger Mortimer and Henry de Lacy, the Earl of Lincoln, and fell on April 8, 1277 when its defenders had water supplies ran out with no well in its walls.

The surrounding lands were claimed by Mortimer who modified the castle and ensured a well was dug and remained in his family until his grandson, Roger, Earl of March lost the estate after being arrested for treason in 1322.

The castle fell into repair during the remainder of the 14th century and in 1398 it was recorded to be ‘ruinous and worth nothing’ and would eventually be sold by the Earls of Powys.

It is ironic the castle lost due to a lack of a well is also associated with the legend of the maiden Sabrina who is said to have drowned at Dolforwyn to become the goddess of the River Severn.

Views from Dolforwyn Castle. Picture: Wiki Commons.

Views from Dolforwyn Castle. Picture: Wiki Commons.

Views from Dolforwyn Caste.