Ruthin Castle was ordered to be built by Edward I as a buffer against the Welsh in 1277, and was largely constructed in 1282.
Construction of the Castle was begun by Dafydd, the brother of Prince Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, but he forfeited the castle when he joined Llewelyn's rebellion against the English King. Llewelyn was killed in 1282 and a year later Dafydd was also defeated and he was hung, drawn, and quartered and his head sent to the Tower of London. 
The defeat of Llewelyn effectively ended the principality of North Wales and the Marcher Lord, Reginald de Grey, Justiciar of Chester, was given the administrative area of the Vale of Clwyd, and his family ran the area for the next 226 years.
118 years passed after the building of the Castle until another Welsh Rebellion had a tragic effect on the town of Ruthin. The third Baron de Grey was in dispute with one Owain Glyndwr over Glyndwr's Dee estates, and it has been said that this triggered the Welsh Rebellion, led by Glyndwr, against the English which began on St Matthew's Day 1400.
Lord Grey controlled Ruthin Castle, and thus the Castle and Ruthin became Glyndwr's first target. The attack surprised all and Glyndwr burned Ruthin to the ground, reputedly leaving only the Castle and a few other buildings standing. Lord Grey evaded capture and the Castle held out, but Glyndwr was not to be done out of his vengeance and two years later he defeated an English army and captured Lord Grey, only releasing him on payment of a ransom.

Ruthin Castle saw service again during the English Civil War when it resisted attack by Parliamentary forces. However after a further eleven-week siege in 1646 the Royalist garrison surrendered and the castle was destroyed by order of Parliament.
The castle originally consisted of two wards and five round towers originally guarding the inner ward. All that remains are three towers and the ruined double-towered gatehouse. The castle was rebuilt in the 19th century as a country house, and is now a luxury hotel, The Ruthin Castle Hotel holds Mediaeval Banquets accompanied by traditional music.

Ruthin Gaol
The first House of Correction, or Bridewell, was built at the bottom of Clwyd Street in 1654, to replace the Old Court House, where "able-bodied idlers and the unemployed" were sent to do work. In January 1775 work began to build a new model prison in Ruthin on the site of the old Bridewell.
By 1865 The Prisons Act set new standards again for the design of prisons and plans were drawn up for a new four-storey wing, and the new prison accommodating up to 100 prisoners, in the style of London's Pentonville Prison was built at a cost of £12,000. As far as is known, only one person was ever executed in the prison, William Hughes of Denbigh, aged 42, who was hanged on 17 February 1903 for the murder of his wife, his plea of insanity having failed.
Ruthin Gaol ceased to be a prison in 1916 when the prisoners and guards were transferred to Shrewsbury. During the Second World War the prison buildings were used as a munitions factory, before being handed back to the County Council afterwards, when it was the headquarters of the Denbighshire Library Service.

In 2002 the Gaol was extensively renovated and reopened as a museum as it is today. It is a grand building and is well worth a visit. The court yard today is used for Farmers' Markets and Craft Fairs among other things, along with  the traditional Town Crier.

More attractions, places of interest and things to do near Ruthin

The Ruthin Craft Centre complex has independent craft workshops, plus the Tourist Information Centre grouped round a courtyard. Visitors can wander round the workshops talking to the craftspeople.
Being close to the Clwyd Hills Ruthin is an ideal base for mountain bike holidays. There are  several excellent trails in the hills nearby.

Ruthin Accommodation Make an instant secure online room or cottage reservation nearby. Room and cottage availability and rates are confirmed online prior to booking. Simply click through to the hotel or cottage page, choose a suitable property, fill in the availability form, including dates of stay, to confirm the exact room rate and reserve the accommodation. On making the reservation you will receive an instant e-mail confirmation with further contact details should you feel this to be necessary.

The famous Llangollen Canal (10 miles as the crow flies) and the awesome Pontcysyllte Aqueduct (a proposed World Heritage site), the Llangollen Railway, and opportunities for many activities including rafting, canoeing, kayaking, climbing, abseiling, and gorge walking.

Slightly further afield (13 miles as the crow flies) you find the late 17th century house, Erddig Hall. Erddig is one of the best examples of ‘life below stairs’ in Britain. It offers a fascinating insight into the daily life of provincial gentry, and the entire population of servants, skivvies, and estate workers. A range of outbuildings includes a kitchen, laundry, bake house, stables, sawmill, smithy and joiners shop, while state rooms display most of the original 18th and 19th century furniture. The large walled garden has been restored to its 18th century formal design and the surrounding Country Park offers much of historic interest including a Saxon earth work known as Wat's Dyke and the remains of a Norman castle mound.

Llyn Brenig (Lake Brenig) nearby is a local attraction with plenty to offer for those who like activity holidays. With fishing, walking, and mountain bike trails around the lake to name just a few of the activities available.

Ruthin has accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, from camping and caravanning to luxury hotels, and self-catering properties set in wonderful locations. Ruthin has excellent specialised shopping, and is an ideal centre from which to explore the beautiful Vale of Clwyd.

At www.walesdirectory.co.uk you are able to find the top attractions in Wales and then make an instant online room reservation close to the attraction.