In the largest town in Caerphilly County, South Wales

 "To be born in Wales ... with music in your blood and with poetry in your soul, is a privilege indeed."

-- Brian Harris
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(in South Wales) Caerphilly (Welsh: Caerffili), the largest town in Caerphilly County, it lies within the historic borders of Glamorgan. Tradition has it that a monastery was built here by St Cenydd, a 6th-century Christian hermit from the area's Gower Peninsula. The Welsh cantref in the medieval period was known as Senghenydd. Around 75 BCE, a fort was built by the Romans, who occupied it until the mid-2nd century.
+ Following the Norman invasion of Wales in the late 11th century, the area of Sengenhydd remained in Welsh hands. By the middle of the 12th century, it was under the control of the Welsh chieftain Ifor Bach. His grandson Gruffydd ap Rhys was the final Welsh lord of Sengenhydd. In 1267 Henry III recognized Llywelyn ap Gruffudd as Prince of Wales, and by September 1268, Llywelyn had secured northern Sengenhydd. Gilbert de Clare had begun to consolidate his own territorial gains, starting the construction of Caerphilly CastleShown here) in 1268. The castle, which served as a buffer against Llewelyn's territorial ambitions, was attacked by the Prince of Wales' forces before construction was halted in 1270; it was restarted again in 1271 and continued under the Red Earl's son, Gilbert de Clare, the 8th Earl of Gloucester. Caerphilly Castle, the 2nd largest in Britain, remains an example of 13th century military architecture and is the second largest in Britain.

+The original town of Caerphilly grew as a settlement south of the castle by De Clare. After the death of Gilbert de Clare in 1314, Edward II became guardian of his three sisters and heiresses. In 1315 he replaced de Badlesmere with a new English administrator, who persecuted the people of Glamorgan. Then, the region suffered from a serious famine.

+ Llywelyn Bren, the great-grandson of Ifor Bach and Welsh Lord of Senghenydd, later incurred the wrath of de Turberville, who charged him with sedition. Llywelyn appealed to Edward II to control his agent, but was ordered to appear before Parliament to face the charge of treason. Llywelyn fled and prepared for war. On 28 January 1316, Llywelyn began an an attack on Caerphilly Castle. He captured the constable outside the castle, but could not break into its inner defences. His forces burned the town and started a siege.
+ At the beginning of the 15th century the castle was again attacked, this time by Owain Glyndŵr, who took control of it in the early 1400s. Repairs to the castle continued until at least 1430. A century later the the castle in ruins with a single tower being used as a prison. In the mid-16th century the 2nd Earl of Pembroke used the castle as a manorial court, but in 1583 the castle was leased to Thomas Lewis, who removed stonework to build his nearby manor, the Van. The Lewis family left the manor in the mid-18th century when they purchased St Fagans Castle.