Flint Castle was the first castle to be built by Kind Edward 1 in a chain of castles which he built to encircle North Wales. It was part of the so-called Iron Ring, and was started in 1277. However, in 1282 Dafydd ap Gruffydd, brother of Llywelyn the Last, attempted an uprising against the Crown and attacked the castle. In 1294 it was attacked again by Madog ap Llywelyn and with the end of the Welsh Wars English settlers and merchants were given land and property in the new town of Flint next to the castle.   In 1399 Richard II of England was held in the castle before being taken back to London. The Royalists held the castle during the English Civil War and it was finally captured by the Parliamentarians in 1647 after a three month long siege. It was partly destroyed under Cromwell’s orders so that it couldn’t be used again. The ruins are what you see today.  

It is free to visit the castle and it is open to the public daily from 10am to 4pm. There is a large car park offering lovely views of the Dee Estuary and out towards the Wirral.