Llantrisant Castle is a ruined castle in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Glamorgan, Wales. The ruins are on a good elevation, commanding extensive views of the surrounding country. It has the appearance of once occupying a formidable position of defense. Now only a portion of a tower and some outer walls remain standing and neglected. Its origin being ascribed to different dates. During what period and by whom this and several other castles in Wales were erected, has not been determined. [1]
Sem Phillips, in his book, The History of the Borough of Llantrisant, Glamorganshire, and Its Neighbourhood, mentions "that taking everything into consideration it seems most probably to have been erected by Gwrgan ab Ithel (Lord of Glamorgan), and repaired, if not rebuilt, by Einion ab Collwyn after the invasion of Fitzhamon." Many antiquaries assert that the above opinion is inconsistent. In the time of Edward I, the castle, undoubtedly, was in possession of Gilbert de Clare, commonly called the Red Lord of Glamorgan, who did homage to Edward on his accession to the titles and estates of his family after the death of his father. Rice Meyrick, in his book of Glamorgan Antiquities, 1578, mentions—" It is said that Earl Robert Galfridus Monemutensis built the castle of Llantrisant in the time Sir Robert Morris was Sheriffe of Glamorgan." Stowe in his History of England mentions Robert Consul or Robert of Caen, son of Henry I, who married Mable, Amable or Mabilla, a daughter of the Norman Knight, Robert Fitzhamon, built the Castle of Llantrisant, the Priory of St. James, and the Castle of Bristol. G. T. Clark in his Land of Morgan (pp. 36, 47-8), refers to Llantrisant Castle, and mentions "Earl Robert, who is known to have built Bristol Castle, is reported to have built that of Cardiff." "Earl Robert seems to have built a castle at Llantrisant, and the accounts of the Lordship in 1184 shows that the Castles Newport, Kenfig and Neath were at that time regularly established fortresses." [1]
This appears to be a period when many castles in Glamorgan were built, and many strong places to have been renewed. The present fragments of masonry comparing with other places of that age. There is no certainty for how long a period the castle was used as a residence. [1]
We find an account of writs issued 15 July 1297, to Walter de Hacklut, custos, to complete the gate of the Castle of Llantrisant which he had begun. After the death of Earl Gilbert in 1314, the Earl's executors had a writ to give seizen to the heirs, 15 July 1317. Bartholomew de Badlesmere was in charge of Glamorgan, and all the officers of the lordship were to have the same fees as in the time of the Earl, also he is to store the castles. In 1315, reference is made to Llantrisant Castle, when a William Fleming was given the custody of the Castle and the Forest of Miskin as Bailiff. Afterwards he fell under the king's displeasure, and was executed in Cardiff for treason. In the year 1404, we find the widow of Thomas, Earl of Glo'ster, a daughter of Edmund of Langley, was allowed her dower, which included the Castles of Neath, Llantrisant, and Kenfig, afterwards seized by Henry the Fifth. [1]
From this time to the year 1533 there seems to be but very little account of the Castle. "After the rebellion there was great discontent in Glamorgan, which broke out under the leadership of Llewellyn Bren, a land-owner on the left bank of the Taff, in the hill country. The Sheriffs of Gloucester and Somerset and John de Wysham, constable of St. Brariels, were to provide men and victuals for a force to put down the rising, and Stephen le Blund is to provide the money. Feb. 13th, 1316. Humphrey de Bohun was to take the command. Peace was at once restored. Bohun was ordered to send Llewellyn Bren, his wife, and two sons, Griffith and Gevan, to the Tower, where they still remain. June, 1317. Wm. de Montacute, Hy. de Penbrugge, and Robert de Grundon were to sit and take fines in Glamorgan for the breach of the laws. Bail was taken for Llewilina, wife of Llewellyn." [1]
Some suppose that at the time of this disturbance the Castle of Llantrisant was demolished. It is certain that Llewellyn destroyed several castles in Glamorgan. Amongst the number the Castles of St. Georges, Sully; Tregaron, Barry; Foulkes, Fitzwain; St. Athan, Ruthyn, and many others. He killed such numbers of English and Normans that no Englishman could be found who would so much as entertain the idea of remaining in Glamorgan. [1]
To all appearance the Castle had two large parks known as the gay pigs the names of the farm houses still existing confirm this. [1]
Glamorgan, or sometimes Glamorganshire, is one of the thirteen historic counties of Wales and a former administrative county of Wales. Originally an early medieval petty kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing. Then taken over by the Normans as a lordship. The area that became known as Glamorgan was both a rural, pastoral area, and a conflict point between the Norman lords and the Welsh princes. It was defined by a large concentration of castles.
Robert Fitzhamon, or Robert FitzHamon, Seigneur de Creully in the Calvados region and Torigny in the Manche region of Normandy, was the first Norman feudal baron of Gloucester and the Norman conqueror of Glamorgan, southern Wales. He became Lord of Glamorgan in 1075.
Iestyn ap Gwrgant[ˈjɛstɪn ap ˈgʊrgant] was the last ruler of the Welsh kingdom of Morgannwg, which encompassed the counties of Glamorgan and Monmouthshire.
Aberavon is a town and community in Neath Port Talbot county borough, Wales. The town derived its name from being near the mouth of the river Afan, which also gave its name to a medieval lordship. Today it is essentially a district of Port Talbot, covering the central and south western part of the town. Aberavon is also the name of the nearby Blue Flag beach and the parish covering the same area.
Llywelyn Bren, or Llywelyn ap Gruffudd ap Rhys or Llywelyn of the Woods (English), also spelt Llewelyn Bren, was a nobleman who led a 1316 revolt in Wales in the reign of King Edward II of England. It marked the last serious challenge to English rule in Wales until the attempts of Owain Lawgoch to invade Wales with French support in the 1370s. Hugh Despenser the Younger's unlawful execution of Llywelyn Bren helped to lead to the eventual overthrow of both Edward II and Hugh.
William FitzRobert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester was the son and heir of Sir Robert de Caen, 1st Earl of Gloucester, and Mabel FitzRobert of Gloucester, daughter of Robert Fitzhamon, and nephew of Empress Matilda.
Events from the 1310s in England.
The Lordship of Glamorgan was one of the most powerful and wealthy of the Welsh Marcher Lordships. The seat was Cardiff Castle. It was established by the conquest of Glamorgan from its native Welsh ruler, by the Anglo-Norman nobleman Robert FitzHamon, feudal baron of Gloucester, and his legendary followers the Twelve Knights of Glamorgan. The Anglo-Norman Lord of Glamorgan, like all Marcher lords, ruled his lands directly by his own law: thus he could, amongst other things, declare war, raise taxes, establish courts and markets and build castles as he wished, without reference to the Crown. These privileges were only lost under the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542. Though possessing many castles, the main seat of the Lordship was Cardiff Castle.
This article is about the particular significance of the century 1301–1400 to Wales and its people.
This page is a list of High Sheriffs of Glamorgan. Sheriffs of Glamorgan served under and were answerable to the independent Lords of Glamorgan until that lordship was merged into the crown. This is in contrast to sheriffs of the English shires who were from the earliest times officers of the crown. Sheriffs in the modern sense, appointed and answerable to the crown, were instituted in the county of Glamorgan in 1541.
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Neath Castle is a Norman castle located in the town centre of Neath, Wales. Its construction was begun by Robert, Earl of Gloucester, the nominal Lord of Glamorgan, at a date estimated between 1114 and 1130. It is also referred to as "Granville's Castle", after Richard I de Grenville, Lord of Neath, who has also been credited with its construction. The town of Neath takes its Welsh name, "Castell-nedd", from the castle.
Kenfig Castle is a ruined castle in Bridgend County Borough in Wales that came to prominence after the Anglo-Norman invasion of Wales in the late 11th century.
The Twelve Knights of Glamorgan were a “legendary” group of mercenaries who followed Robert Fitzhamon (d.1107), the Norman conqueror of Glamorgan. Although Fitzhamon was an actual historical figure, 16th century historians, in particular Sir Edward Stradling, built upon the legend of a group of knights who ruled over the county in his stead. The fact that many of the knights existed during the period gave the legend credence.
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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.
Sir Richard de Grenville was one of the Twelve Knights of Glamorgan who served under Robert FitzHamon, in the conquest of Glamorgan in Wales. He obtained from FitzHamon the lordship of Neath in which he built Neath Castle and in 1129 founded Neath Abbey. He is by tradition the founder and ancestor of the prominent Westcountry Grenville family of Stowe in the parish of Kilkhampton in Cornwall and of Bideford in Devon, the later head of which family was John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath (1628–1701). The surname of his supposed descendants the Westcountry Grenville family was spelled by tradition "Grenville" until 1661 when it was altered to "Granville".
Sir Edward Stradling (1529–1609) was an English politician, antiquary and literary patron.
Llantrisant Church is located in Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Glamorgan, Wales. Built within a short distance of Llantrisant Castle, it was originally in the Norman style of architecture. When described in History of Llantrisant, Glamorganshire (1898), little of the original church remained, with the only traces of Norman architecture being the baptismal font, a portion of the south door, and the lower part of the western arch of the nave. The tower, which is about 70 feet (21 m) high, contains a peal of six bells. The living is a vicarage. Llantrisant Church is a Grade II* listed building.
Morgan Gam was a Welsh lord of Afan, a small Welsh lordship in Glamorgan.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain : T. Morgan's History of Llantrisant, Glamorganshire (1898)