Castell Coch is a Norman earthwork motte and bailey fortress, founded by Robert fitz Hamon. In the 12th century, Ifor Bach founded the stone castle, when he crowned the motte with a shell keep, flanked by a square gatehouse. In the 13th century, Gilbert de Clare strengthend the castle, cladding the motte in stone and flanking the thickened curtain wall, with three large drum towers, two with spur buttresses. Slighted in the 14th century, it was never rebuilt and the position of the bailey has now been lost. In the 19th century, the architect William Burges and the 3rd Marquis of Bute, transformed the medieval remains, when building a dramatic Victorian Gothic 'fairytale'-style castle. 4 miles north-east is Caerphilly Castle and 6 miles south-east is Cardiff Castle.