Owain Glyndwr and the siege of Coity Castle near Bridgend and battle of Stalling Down near Cowbridge

It is May 1404. Pretty much the whole of Wales is now involved in the Owain Glyndwr revolt as he fights his war of independence. Cardiff is in flames, and just north of Bridgend in Glamorgan, Coity Castle, the home of Sir Lawrence Berkerolles is under siege. A siege which lasts for nearly 2 years – the longest of the entire conflict. But what do we know of this battle? Why was Coity so important it warranted a two year siege? Who was fighting on behalf of the King of England at Coity and who was fighting for Glyndwr? What was the role of Ogmore Castle and Ewenny Priory and why were those places left in ruins? And the local families at the heart of the action; the Flemings, Berkerolles and Turbervilles, as well as Prince Hal (the future Henry V), Parliament and Owain Glyndwr himself. In this video I discuss these events with Claire Miles (the history blogger – Hidoryan). We talk about the origins and causes of Glyndwr’s revolt, his vision for Wales and England, the Triparteid Indenture with Mortimer and Percy, the role played by Henry IV and of course the sieges and battles of Glamorgan. And we look at Glyndwr himself. Who he was, his modern legacy, how his revolt got off the ground, how it succeeded for so many years and then ultimately failed. And what was it about him that made him such a charismatic figure, a man William Shakespear described as extraordinary. In his play Henry IV (Part one) Shakespear’s characterisation of Glyndwr says this about himself: “At my birth the front of heaven was full of fiery shapes… These signs have marked me extraordinary. And all the courses of my life do show I am not in the role of common men” This video was made in conjunction with a radio broadcast of ‘History on your doorstep’ for Bro Radio. It is a monthly programme that airs onnthe fourth Monday of every month after the 7pm news. It charts the history of the Vale of Glamorgan and is available to listen to on the listen again app. For more information and books on the areas we discuss please visit my website: https://grahamloveluckedwards.com