In 1405 Abberley Hill was at the centre of a protracted stand-off between two major medieval armies, that of Henry IV camped on Abberley Hill itself and the primarily Welsh army of Owain Glyndŵr (Owen Glendower) camped on nearby Woodbury Hill.
The song "1404" recalls a 'lost chapter' in Welsh history, when Owain Glyndŵr was crowned Prince of Wales in that year having successfully revolted against the English.
In 1403 Henry IV entrusted the castle to Sir Walter Fitzwalter, a Baron FitzWalter, and asked him to strengthen it against likely raids by Welsh forces of Owain Glyndŵr.
In 1403 Henry IV ordered the castle to be fortified against attacks by Owain Glyndŵr although by 1374 the castle had already been ruined.
A typical early Norman defence work which is one of many along the Welsh Marches, it is thought to have been built in the reign of Henry I of England (1100–1135) or King Stephen (1135–54) and was demolished or destroyed by the late 14th century, but why and how is not known (possibly during the rebellion of Owain Glyndŵr).
It was then in the possession of William Beauchamp, Lord Abergavenny, who refortified it in the face of the threat from Owain Glyndŵr.
The name Gobowen is believed to originate from Gob (a pillow) and Owen (Owain Glyndŵr) who was believed to have rested his weary head there.
Owain Glyndŵr's army of Welsh and French camped here for eight days in the summer of 1405 facing an army of King Henry IV at Abberley Hill.
He won the Owain Glyndŵr Award in 1998, “for outstanding contributions to the arts in Wales”.
Monnington is regarded as the possible location of Owain Glyndŵr's retirement, death and burial.
The castle became a ruin by the 16th century, possibly attacked by Owain Glyndŵr.
Owain Glyndŵr | Owain Gwynedd | Owain Lawgoch | Owain | Alys ferch Owain Glyndŵr | Owain Goch ap Gruffydd | Owain Brown | Maredudd ab Owain | Rhun ab Owain Gwynedd | Owain Phyfe | Owain Glyndŵr (Owen Glendower) | Owain ap Hywel Dda | Maredudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd | Maelgwn ab Owain Gwynedd | Llywelyn the Elder ap Maredudd ap Cynan ab Owain Gwynedd | Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd | Gutun Owain | Gruffudd ab Owain Glyndŵr | Glyndwr Williams | Glyndŵr Rising | Glyndwr Michael | David Glyndwr Tudor Williams | Dafydd ab Owain Gwynedd |
Alys ferch Owain Glyndŵr was one of the daughters of Margaret Hanmer and Owain Glyndŵr, the disinherited prince of the old Welsh royal house of Powys Fadog who led a major revolt in Wales between 1400 and ca.
Corwen is best known for its connections with Owain Glyndŵr, who proclaimed himself Prince of Wales on 16 September 1400, from his nearby manor of Glyndyfrdwy, which began his fourteen-year rebellion against English rule.
Owain Glyndŵr is said to have spent his final years after his disappearance following the eventual failure of his rebellion against King Henry IV in hiding under an alternative identity with his daughter, Alys Scudamore, previously known as Alys ferch Owain Glyndŵr, and her husband, a Herefordshire Scudamore, namely Sir John Scudamore in the Golden Valley.
The castle declined in importance thereafter, but was attacked in March 1405 by Welsh forces led by Rhys Gethin and including Gruffudd, son of Owain Glyndŵr.
Montgomery was sacked at the beginning of the 15th century by the Welsh Prince Owain Glyndŵr (Owen Glendower).