Scale of Eryri castle vandals 'unbelievable' hammer attack filmed by police

Vandals damaged one of the great native castles of Wales by hammering off chunks of stone, police have said. Dolbadarn Castle was once a symbol of Llywelyn the Great’s power and is now visited by thousands of tourists each year.

The Grade I-listed castle, built the early 13th century, sits beneath Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) at the base of the Llanberis Pass. In July 2023, North Wales Police (NWP) launched an investigation into reported criminal damage at the heritage attraction.

The NWP Rural Crime Team acted after receiving a report from heritage body Cadw that part of the castle’s round tower had been deliberately damaged. Witnesses reported two youths standing on top of the castle clutching a hammer and knocking stones off the landmark. These were hurled down, causing them to smash on the ground.

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Damage include a large coping stone hammered from the tower. At the time, PCSO Rhys Evans described the vandalism as “unbelievable”, revealing that video footage of the incident had been captured.

Following inquiries, police interviewed a youth, who admitted two offences. These included the “unauthorised removal of stones” from the structure and “breaking stones that were formerly part of the castle”.

The youngster was referred to the Youth Justice Service and ordered to carry out intervention sessions. These ranged from justice awareness to consequential thinking, peer pressure and victim awareness.

The youth was also ordered to complete three hours of reparation work. The second suspect was never identified. Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone

The castle’s stone keep is considered the “finest surviving example of a Welsh round tower”. Dolbadarn was taken by Edward I in 1284 and some of its timbers were removed to build Caernarfon Castle.

Later, the castle was used as a manor house before falling into ruin. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it became a popular destination for artists, including William Turner. It has appearing in countless landscape paintings.

PC Amy Bennett of the NWP Rural Crime Team said: “We take reports of heritage crime very seriously, and we will ensure we pursue offenders that are involved in any crimes that damage our heritage assets. This is one of many cases where we have taken positive action against heritage crime in North Wales

“As part of anti-social behaviour awareness week this week, we will continue to highlight issues faced locally around heritage crime. Our historic environment and cultural heritage is irreplaceable – we protect them for the benefit of people today and for our future generations.

“Please help support us in tackling these offences by reporting any crimes to us when you see they have taken place.” Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

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