in a night attack, despite the Normans arranging for it to be defended in a two weekly rotation by local chieftains. Gruffydd dismantled the castle and plundered the surrounding town. Subsequently rebuilt, the castle changed hands several times over the following decades. The North Wales prince, Owain Gwynedd ('Owain the Great'), destroyed the castle in 1137 and it was again destroyed in 1143. Briefly recaptured in 1144, it was again taken by Cadell (the son of Gruffydd ap Rhys) in 1146 and retained for several years. Cadell's brother Rhys again captured (and destroyed) the castle in 1195. Wars of the Roses Carmarthen Castle is noted as the place of death of Edmund Tudor, father of the first Tudor king of England, Henry VII. Edmund took possession of the castle during the Wars of the Roses on behalf of the House of Lancaster. Opposing Yorkist troops led by William Herbert captured the castle in August 1456, imprisoning Edmund Tudor, who died a prisoner there on 1 November. His 13-year old wife Margaret gave birth to Henry in January the following year. The Old Gaol An eight cell gaol existed in the inner bailey at Carmarthen Castle and, in 1789, this was converted into a new County Gaol, designed by architect John Nash. The gaol was extended in 1869 and survived until it was demolished in 1936. In about 1860 a two-storey police station and lock-up was built between the outer and inner walls of the castle. It was used as a place to hold prisoners in transit to the nearby courthouse. The building was used as such until 1947 (and now known as Castle House). 20th and 21st centuries With no further use as a prison, Carmarthenshire Council bought the Old Gaol in 1925, intending to build the new County Hall and a museum on the site. Carmarthenshire Council's new "chateau" style County Hall was completed in 1938. The remains of Carmarthen Castle have been a Grade I heritage listed since 1954, as "substantial remains of a major medieval castle". Around the turn of the 21st century parts of the castle, the Square Tower and Southwest Tower, were made accessible following a detailed archaeological investigation. A number of surrounding buildings were removed to improve the visibility of the castle. The upper levels of the gatehouse and shell keep were opened to the public (with full access around the ground level) for