Cardiff Castle was not built in a single year ; instead it evolved over nearly 2,000 years , with different phases of construction.

Quick Scoop

  • Roman phase : The first fort on the site was built around AD 55 , making the location over 1,900 years old.
  • Norman castle : The first motte‑and‑bailey castle was built in the late 11th century , most likely around 1081–1093 , either by William the Conqueror or Robert Fitzhamon.
  • Medieval stone rebuild : In the 12th and 13th centuries , the Normans rebuilt the keep and walls in stone, creating the core of the medieval castle.
  • Victorian makeover : In the 19th century , the 3rd Marquess of Bute and architect William Burges transformed it into the Gothic‑Revival mansion you see today.

Simple timeline table

[1][5] [5][7][3] [3][5] [7][3]
Period Approx. date What was built
Roman AD 55 (and later forts) First Roman fort on the site
Norman 1081–1093 Original motte‑and‑bailey castle
Medieval 12th–15th centuries Stone keep, walls, towers, and gatehouses
Victorian 1860s–1880s Gothic‑Revival mansion and Clock Tower
So if someone asks **“when was Cardiff Castle built?”** , the most accurate short answer is: **the first fort was built around AD 55, and the Norman castle that became Cardiff Castle dates from the late 11th century, about 1081–1093.**

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.