They have, in fact, as Mr.
Clark remarks, more of an unfinished than a partially destroyed
appearance. The squared and jointed stones, so easily removable and
ready to hand, {16} proved no doubt a tempting quarry to subsequent
owners of Hawarden, who perhaps shared the faults of a period when
neither the architectural nor historical value of ancient remains was
generally appreciated.
It now remains to trace the history of the Castle, so far as it is known
to us.
In 1264 a memorable conference took place within its walls between Simon
de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and Llewelyn, Prince of North Wales, at
which each promised to aid the other in promoting the execution of their
respective plans. The King, who, with the Prince of Wales, was the
Earl's prisoner, was compelled to renounce his rights, and the Castle was
given up to Llewelyn. On the suppression of de Montfort's rebellion the
Castle reverted to the Crown, and Llewelyn was called upon by the Papal
Legate, Ottoboni, to surrender it. This he at first declined, but being
deserted by the Earl, who at the same time, in order to put an end to the
conflict, offered to him his daughter Eleanor in marriage agreed
afterwards to a treaty by which the Castle was to be destroyed, and
Robert de Montalt to be reinstated in the possession of his lands in
Hawarden, but to be restrained from restoring the fortification for
thirty years.
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