 The current Raglan Castle was begun by Sir William ap Thomas , the lesser son of a minor Welsh family who rose through the ranks of mid @-@ 15th century politics , profiting from the benefits of the local offices he held . William married first Elizabeth , a wealthy heiress , and then <unk> ap Thomas , another heiress who would prove to be a powerful regional figure in her own right . In 1432 William purchased the manor of Raglan , where he had already been staying as a tenant , for 1 @,@ 000 marks ( £ 666 ) and commenced a programme of building work that established the basic shape of the castle as seen today , although most of it — with the exception of the South Gate and the Great Tower — was later built over . 
