Llandough Castle is a 14th-century tower house located in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. [1] Initially constructed as a fortified residential manor, the property is well preserved and has undergone many structural additions. [1] [2] It is currently a private residence [3] [4] Llandough Castle was assigned Grade II* listed building status in 1981. [5]
Llandough Castle was constructed in the 14th century as a private residence and has remained as such for most of its lifespan. [1] Records show that it was part of the Herbert estate during the 15th century, before being purchased by Dr Edward Carne in 1536. [2] Through marriage the castle became part of the Talbot family's Penrice and Margam estate in 1677 and was subsequently leased to various private owners throughout the 18th century. [2] [5] Llandough Castle underwent extensive structural revisions in the 19th century by renting occupants, in particular John Price and Francis Edmonde Stacey. [2]
Sold in 1929, Llandough Castle has since remained a private residential property, though in the 1930s it was temporarily used as an educational centre for young boys working in the local mines. [2] [6]
The castle building itself is well preserved, though most of the structure, bar one wall, is not the original 14th-century construction. [7] Present day Llandough Castle is a roughly square-shaped building of 24m length, set behind tall boundary walls. [1] [2] Frequent renovation work occurred during the 19th century, including the incorporation of the West Tower into the main structure and construction of the East Wing. [1] [2] Minor changes were made to the interior layout of the castle after World War II, including alterations to the central part of the structure and the repurposing of the servants quarters. [6]
Llandough Castle is surrounded by almost 4 acres of gardens. [3] William Harkness, the head gardener between 1869 and 1900, is largely credited with the development and preservation of the gardens. [6] After World War II the gardens fell into disrepair, becoming neglected and sold off. [6] After 9 years of design and cultivation by garden owners Simon and Rhian Rees, the gardens opened to the public in 2018 as part of the National Garden Scheme. [3] [4]
The Vale of Glamorgan, often referred to as The Vale, is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. It borders Bridgend County Borough to the west, Cardiff to the east, Rhondda Cynon Taf to the north, and the Bristol Channel to the south. With an economy based largely on agriculture and chemicals, it is the southernmost unitary authority in Wales. Attractions include Barry Island Pleasure Park, the Barry Tourist Railway, Medieval wall paintings in St Cadoc's Church, Llancarfan, Porthkerry Park, St Donat's Castle, Cosmeston Lakes Country Park and Cosmeston Medieval Village. The largest town is Barry. Other towns include Penarth, Llantwit Major, and Cowbridge. There are many villages in the county borough.
Cowbridge is a market town in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, approximately 12 miles (19 km) west of the centre of Cardiff.
Ewenny Priory, in Ewenny in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, was a monastery of the Benedictine order, founded in the 12th century. The priory was unusual in having extensive military-style defences and in its state of preservation; the architectural historian John Newman described it as “the most complete and impressive Norman ecclesiastical building in Glamorgan”. Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries, parts of the priory were converted into a private house by Sir Edward Carne, a lawyer and diplomat. This Elizabethan house was demolished between 1803 and 1805 and replaced by a Georgian mansion, Ewenny Priory House. The house is still owned by the Turbervill family, descendants of Sir Edward. The priory is not open to the public apart from the Church of St Michael, the western part of the priory building, which continues to serve as the parish church for the village. The priory is in the care of Cadw and is a Grade I listed building.
Llantwit Major is a town and community in Wales on the Bristol Channel coast. It is one of four towns in the Vale of Glamorgan, with the third largest population after Barry and Penarth, and ahead of Cowbridge. It is 4+1⁄2 miles (7.2 km) from Cowbridge, 9 miles (14 km) from Bridgend, 10 miles (16 km) from Barry, and 15 miles (24 km) from Cardiff. It had a population of 9,530 in 2021.
Colwinston is both a village and a community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of the centre of Bridgend and 21 miles (34 km) west of the centre of Cardiff. The village is located within 1⁄2 mile (0.80 km) of the A48. The population in 2005 was approximately 400 but with recent building development, the population is now estimated at over 600 people.
Llandough is a village, community and electoral ward in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, approximately 2.3 miles (3.7 km) south west of Cardiff city centre, and approximately 1.3 miles (2 km) north west of Penarth.
Llanblethian is a village in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales which sits upon the River Thaw. It makes up part of the community of Cowbridge with Llanblethian, which consists of the village itself, the larger market town of Cowbridge and Aberthin.
Barry Castle is a small Grade II* listed ruined two-storey gatehouse with the adjacent walls of a hall in the Romilly district of Barry, Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales.
Llanmaes is a small village and community in the Vale of Glamorgan near the market town of Llantwit Major. The population in 2011 was 403.
St Hilary is a village in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It is located just south of the A48, about a mile southeast of the market town of Cowbridge. The village has a population of about 260, in approximately 80 houses. Notable landmarks in the vicinity include The Bush Inn, the Church of St Hilary, the Old Beaupre Castle, New Beaupre, Coed Hills and St. Hilary mast.
St Quintins Castle is a castle located in the village of Llanblethian, Cowbridge, Wales. It is a scheduled monument and a Grade II* listed building and is under the care of Cadw. The site was first occupied with a defensive structure in about 1102 and the gatehouse and further building work took place around 1312. It was later used as a prison and was reported as being in a ruinous state by 1741.
Old Beaupre Castle is a ruined medieval fortified manor house located in the community of Llanfair, outside Cowbridge in Wales. It is known in historic documents under the names Beawpire, Bewerpere, Bewpyr and Y Bewpur. It is a Grade I listed building and is under the care of Cadw. It can be visited free of charge all year round by members of the public. The gardens are designated Grade II on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.
Llandough is a village in the community of Llanfair, south of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.
Flemingston is a small village in the Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales. It is located 8.5 miles (13.7 km) northwest by road from the town centre of Barry. It contains the Church of St. Michael the Archangel, the ruins of Flemingston Court, and Flemingston Manor or Grange, all of which are listed buildings. Historically, the parish of Flemingston was a sub-manor of Aberthaw or St Athan.
Penllyn Castle is a Norman-style country house, dating mainly from the Victorian period, located in Cowbridge, 4 miles (6.4 km) south-east of Bridgend, South Wales.
St Mary Hill is a settlement in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It is located approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) north west of the market town of Cowbridge. It is part of the community of Llangan along with Treoes and the village of Llangan itself.
Cowbridge town wall is a Grade II*-listed medieval wall in the small market town of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. The walls were built by about 1300. It is believed that the purpose of the wall was to protect the Lord of Glamorgan's burgage plots and to provide a way of collecting tolls from the town's market, held twice-weekly. The wall has been altered several times throughout its existence.
The Church of the Holy Cross is a medieval church in Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. Initially a chapel of ease to Church of St John the Baptist, Llanblethian of Cowbridge as a medieval market town. Believed to have been built in the 13th century, the church has an unusual tower design. It has undergone several restorations including one by John Prichard in 1850–52. The Church of the Holy Cross was listed as a Grade I building on 12 May 1963.
Llanfair is a community in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It is located immediately south of the town of Cowbridge and includes the settlements of St Hilary, Llandough, St Mary Church and The Herberts. The population in 2011 was 611.
St Dochdwy's Church is a historic listed church in the village of Llandough, near Penarth in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.