The Welsh marches have long been a source of contention between our two nations. Its distinctive geography, wedged roughly between the Welsh mountains and the English river beds means that it was the source of conflict for many hundreds of years. As a result it has the largest concentration of motte and bailey castles in Britain. Despite being an area of frequent conflict since the early years of the Roman conquest, it was not until William the conqueror sought to subdue the borderland that the area was consolidated into a separate entity.

   The Welsh however did not gracefully submit to Norman control and resisted for well over 100 years. In order to quell the uprisings King William created the Marcher Lordship and granted virtual independence to over 150 of his most valued supporters. Marcher lords ruled their lands as they saw fit and unlike their counterparts in England who were directly accountable to the king, they could build castles, set laws, wage wars, levy taxes and establish towns. "They possessed all of the royal prerequisites, salvage, treasure trove, plunder and Royal fish" (Rowley)

    The creation of the marcher lordship was an effective means for quelling the rebellions without active participation of the Kings sovereign armies. In exchange for this service they were conferred such rights as were not available to other nobility native to England. Therefore, whilst acting as a strategic buffer for their king they were also able to command minor sovereignties within their own estates. As such, they were a powerful factor in the governance of England. Indeed at the time of Edward I there were ten English earls, of whom seven were marcher lords. One such family is generally associated with the March, and in fact it held sway in parts of Pembrokeshire for a long period. The house of Mortimer epitomized Marcher lordship. This class of Anglo- Norman nobility had been established by William the conqueror and perpetuated by his descendants. However the power that the marcher lord held, in particular the Mortimer’s, could have serious ramifications for the crown.

    Around 1325 Queen Isabella (Edward II's wife) became the lover of Roger de Mortimer, and with an army raised in France they landed at Orwell on the Suffolk coast on 24 September 1326 with about 1500 men. With support from many of the Barons and lords of England the eventually deposed the unpopular king Edward under the banner of her son and future king of England. Edward II was killed in September 1327 at Berkeley castle, Isabella and Roger ruled England in the name of Edward III for a further three years until Edward had them both arrested in October 1330. Isabella was retired from public life, while Mortimer was condemned to death. He was drawn through London to the Elms at Tyburn and hanged.