Written by John Addis from Crickhowell:

"The castle as you enter the town from the east can be seen from the A40 road, which is on the route of an old Roman road from London to Fishguard.

Alisby, who was a knight serving Roger Mortimer (a Norman), once held the castle in its early days and the castle is named Alisby Castle after him. The Turbervilles held the castle in the 13th Century, but Lady Sybil Turberville, heiress to the estate, married Sir Grimbald Pauncefote and this resulted in the Pauncefote's running the castle.

Reputed to be built in the 12th century, the castle was attacked in 1403 by Owain Glyndwr (true name Owain ap Gruffydd, son of Gruffydd Fychan, descendant of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn, Prince of Powys) and was believed to have been abandoned in the same century.

The collapse of the structure and robbing of the stone by locals to build most of the surrounding properties has left only the remains of two towers, one circular and one rectangular. Part of the rectangular tower collapsed during the First World War.

The grounds in which the remains of the castle lie, were a camp for the Indian Army during the Second World War. Information which my father, Trevor Addis, gave me during my youth, states that earth moving equipment was brought in and the ground was extensively moved around, to give its present day shape.

The tower that stands in Tower Street was one time thought to be a drum tower that belonged to the castle's curtain wail, but research has found that it is a folly. Also the stone window mullions and the tower were reputedly taken from Llanfair Chapel and built into its structure.

The ground in which the castle stands is now a recreation ground. The ground was given to the people of Crickhowell and surrounding areas by a gentleman called Mr James of Llanwysk House, Llangattock, to honour the death of his son who died in the Great War of 1914/18. Rennovation work to the remaining part of the castle was completed in September 2001 by Cadw."

Article written by John Addis from Crickhowell.