Europe · United Kingdom · the Vale of Glamorgan

Penllyn Castle

1135Medieval

The story

History of Penllyn Castle

Penllyn Castle · 1135

. The castle has views of the surrounding area]] Penllyn Castle is a Norman-style country house, dating mainly from the Victorian period, located in Cowbridge, south-east of Bridgend, South Wales.

United Kingdom · the Vale of Glamorgan

Built
1135
Era
Medieval
Country
United Kingdom
Region
the Vale of Glamorgan
UNESCO
—
Coordinates
51.474, -3.472

In depth

The fuller history

Built by Robert Fitzhamon in 1135, the sheriff Earl of Gloucester, it shares an oblong tower like contemporary Ogmore Castle. The high-location was chosen as it gave clear-view over both the River Thaw and Ewenny River valleys.

Reportedly attacked by Owain Glyndŵr, today the two surviving main walls of the original castle stand on the edge of a low cliff above the River Thaw. They include near the base six courses of "herringbone" masonry, a feature of early Norman construction. These add to the academic theory that the castle was one of the first Norman structures built during Fitzhamon's occupation of Glamorgan.

Key dates

  1. 1135Built by Robert Fitzhamon in 1135, the sheriff Earl of Gloucester, it shares an oblong tower like contemporary Ogmore Castle.
  2. 1780In the 1790s, a new manor house was built by Miss Gwinnett between 1780 and 1790, and the old house which now lies derelict converted into a stable block.
  3. 1846Using a "Tudorbethan"-style to match the previous works undertaken by the Turbeville family, he rebuilt the estate between 1846 and 1860.
  4. 1961The castle was sold to the Cory family in 1961 in order to pay death duties.
  5. 2018The castle was sold in October 2018 to Terence and Judith Edgell with a view to restoring it to its former glory and using it as their family home.

Historical summary drawn from Wikipedia. Read the full article.

Read more on Wikipedia

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