Knucklas
Encyclopedia
Knucklas and Heyop (or Heyope) are two small but inseparable villages in Powys
, Wales
. They lie off the B4355 road and are served by Knucklas railway station
on the Heart of Wales Line
. Both are approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) from Knighton and lie in the upper valley of the River Teme
and also a stone throw away from the English border and nearby county of Shropshire
.
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. They lie off the B4355 road and are served by Knucklas railway station
Knucklas railway station
Knucklas railway station serves the village of Knucklas, Powys 34¾ miles south west of Shrewsbury.The railway station is located on a steep hill above the village. After departing the station, the line passes over the Knucklas viaduct...
on the Heart of Wales Line
Heart of Wales Line
The Heart of Wales Line is a railway line running from Craven Arms in Shropshire to Llanelli in South Wales. It runs, as the name suggests, through some of the heartlands of Wales. It serves a number of rural centres en route, including several once fashionable spa towns, including Llandrindod Wells...
. Both are approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) from Knighton and lie in the upper valley of the River Teme
River Teme
The River Teme rises in Mid Wales, south of Newtown in Powys, and flows through Knighton where it crosses the border into England down to Ludlow in Shropshire, then to the north of Tenbury Wells on the Shropshire/Worcestershire border there, on its way to join the River Severn south of Worcester...
and also a stone throw away from the English border and nearby county of Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
.
Historic Knucklas
Knucklas has two notable historical survivals:- The Castle Mound is a protected ancient monument in the care of CadwCadw-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
. It dates from 1240 but was possibly built on earlier foundations. It consisted of a keepKeepA keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
- a square stone fortification with four round towers on top of a steep hill. There is some evidence that there may have been further outer walls. It was captured by a Welsh army in 1262 which destroyed the defences.Below the castle lies the battlefield of the Battle of BeguildyBeguildyBeguildy is a village in mid Wales. It lies in a remote tract of countryside, on the B4355 8 miles north west of Knighton, Powys and on the road to Newtown. It lies near the headwaters of the River Teme and is 235 metres above sea level...
fought between the Welsh and the MortimerMortimerMortimer is a popular English name, used both as a surname and a given name.- Norman origins :The origin of the name is almost certainly Norman, but the details are disputed....
family of NormanNormansThe Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
Marcher LordsMarcher LordsA Marcher Lord was a strong and trusted noble appointed by the King of England to guard the border between England and Wales.A Marcher Lord is the English equivalent of a margrave...
in 1146. The castle was attacked and destroyed by the forces of Owain GlyndŵrOwain GlyndwrOwain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
in 1402 during his rebellion. Whilst there is a romantic story associating the castle location with the marriage of GuinevereGuinevereGuinevere was the legendary queen consort of King Arthur. In tales and folklore, she was said to have had a love affair with Arthur's chief knight Sir Lancelot...
and King ArthurKing ArthurKing Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
. this probably developed from an earlier story which suggested that a marriage took place between GwenhwyfarGuinevereGuinevere was the legendary queen consort of King Arthur. In tales and folklore, she was said to have had a love affair with Arthur's chief knight Sir Lancelot...
, the daughter of Ogrfan Gawr (also called 'Gogrfan Gawr "the Giant" of Castell y Cnwclas' (Knucklas Castle)) and Arthur the warrior - there being no reference to Arthur as a kingKing ArthurKing Arthur is a legendary British leader of the late 5th and early 6th centuries, who, according to Medieval histories and romances, led the defence of Britain against Saxon invaders in the early 6th century. The details of Arthur's story are mainly composed of folklore and literary invention, and...
in the early Welsh texts.
- The ViaductViaductA viaduct is a bridge composed of several small spans. The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to lead something. However, the Ancient Romans did not use that term per se; it is a modern derivation from an analogy with aqueduct. Like the Roman aqueducts, many early...
. A spectacular 13-arch span completed in 1865 and recorded in an engraving from the Illustrated London NewsIllustrated London NewsThe Illustrated London News was the world's first illustrated weekly newspaper; the first issue appeared on Saturday 14 May 1842. It was published weekly until 1971 and then increasingly less frequently until publication ceased in 2003.-History:...
.
