Prior to current castle, of which ruins remain, there is thought to have been a hill fort at the site dating from either the late Roman/post Roman period. Construction of the castle began in 1277, after King Edward I of England gave the lordship of Hope to Dafydd ap Gruffydd as reward for his service in the wars against the Welsh which concluded earlier that year. Dafydd, brother to Llywelyn the Great, had fought against the Welsh after being imprisoned by Llywelyn to deny him his inherited land rights. Edward declared war in 1276, and afterwards enforced the division of inheritance on Llywelyn under Welsh law. This placed Edward in control of Welsh lands previously held by Llywelyn.