Chepstow Castle is situated on the mouth of the river Wye and is a gate-house to the Vale of Wye. Built by William or his son Roger Fitz Osbern on a high cliff overlooking the river the castle was well situated to control movements and as a base for further exploration of Wales. The castle was defended at the back by a natural ravine. In the early 12th century the castle came into the hands of the de Clare family. When Richard 'Strongbow' de Clare died in 1176 he left a daughter Isabel as heiress. Isabel married William Marshal and the castle remained with the Marshal family until 1245 when the last in the Marshal line died. Chepstow then passed on to Roger Bigod, the fourth Earl of Norfolk.
In 1189 William Marshal married Isabel (Isabella), the heiress of Earl Richard de Clare. Isabel's castles passed to William including Pembroke Castle.2
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