Wenvoe Castle

Last updated
Wenvoe Castle
Wenvoe Castle, 1899.jpg
Wenvoe Castle and estate in 1899
Vale of Glamorgan UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Vale of Glamorgan
General information
Town or cityNear Wenvoe, Vale of Glamorgan
CountryWales
Coordinates 51°26′5″N3°16′9″W / 51.43472°N 3.26917°W / 51.43472; -3.26917 Coordinates: 51°26′5″N3°16′9″W / 51.43472°N 3.26917°W / 51.43472; -3.26917
Completed1776–77, 1928

Wenvoe Castle was a castle and country estate between Barry and Wenvoe, in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. Today the former estate forms the Wenvoe Castle Golf Club. Goldsland lies on its western boundary.

History

In the later medieval periods, Wenvoe is recorded as having belonged to three families: De Sully, le Fleming and Malefaunt. However, according to Clifford Spurgeon, it wasn't until the late 1530s that a castle at Wenvoe was mentioned, when it appeared in Leland's Itinerary. [1] After being escheated to the crown, it belonged successively to the Thomas, Birt and Jenner families.

The Thomas family inherited the estate in 1560 when Jevan ap Harpway of Tresimont, Hertfordshire married Catherine, the only daughter and heiress of Thomas ap Thomas. [2] They were prominent figures in the history of Glamorgan, amongst them Edmund Thomas (1633–1677), politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1654 and 1656 and sat in Cromwell's Upper House, Colonel Charles Nassau Thomas (died April 1820), vice chamberlain to the Prince of Wales (later King George IV) and Sir Godfrey-Vignolles Thomas, 9th Baronet (1856–1919). [3]

In 1774, the Thomas family fell into debts and sold the estate to Peter Birt, a coal magnate of Yorkshire. Birt ordered the building of a new castle in 1776–77, under the design of architect Robert Adam, his only building in Wales. [4] The Birts later passed the estate to the Jenner family in 1823/4, [5] who were prominent in 19th century Glamorganshire, and give their name to a district of Barry today, Jenner Park. Robert Francis Jenner (1802–1860) was High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1827.

Much of the building was obliterated by a 1910 fire. [6] Nonetheless, restored in 1928 with its Georgian appearance, it is now used as the clubhouse. [7] The Wenvoe Castle Golf Club was established in 1936, by the owner of the manor, Hugh Jenner. [8] The castles gardens and park are designated Grade II on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vale of Glamorgan</span> County borough in Wales

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neath Abbey</span>

Neath Abbey was a Cistercian monastery, located near the present-day town of Neath in South Wales, UK. It was once the largest abbey in Wales. Substantial ruins can still be seen, and are in the care of Cadw. Tudor historian John Leland called Neath Abbey "the fairest abbey of all Wales."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castell Coch</span> 19th-century Gothic Revival castle in Tongwynlais, Wales

Castell Coch is a 19th-century Gothic Revival castle built above the village of Tongwynlais in South Wales. The first castle on the site was built by the Normans after 1081 to protect the newly conquered town of Cardiff and control the route along the Taff Gorge. Abandoned shortly afterwards, the castle's earth motte was reused by Gilbert de Clare as the basis for a new stone fortification, which he built between 1267 and 1277 to control his freshly annexed Welsh lands. This castle may have been destroyed in the native Welsh rebellion of 1314. In 1760, the castle ruins were acquired by John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, as part of a marriage settlement that brought the family vast estates in South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Athan</span> Human settlement in Wales

St Athan is a village and community in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales. The village and its parish church are dedicated to Saint Tathan. The church dates to the 13th–14th century, though an earlier church was dated to the Norman period. The village and the adjacent dormitory village of Eglwys Brewis are known primarily for the MOD St Athan RAF base. There are two pubs in the village, as well as a football team at St Athan Football Club and the St Athan Golf Club. The community includes West Aberthaw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonvilston</span> Human settlement in Wales

Bonvilston is a village in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. The village is situated on the A48 about four miles east of Cowbridge and near the Welsh capital city of Cardiff. The population in 2011 was 392.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boverton</span> Human settlement in Wales

Boverton is a village located to the east of Llantwit Major in the Vale of Glamorgan in South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wenvoe</span> Human settlement in Wales

Wenvoe is a village, community and electoral ward between Barry and Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. Nearby are the Wenvoe Transmitter near Twyn-yr-Odyn and the site of the former HTV Wales Television Centre at Culverhouse Cross which is now a housing estate. It is home to the Wenvoe Quarry and Wenvoe Castle Golf Club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wenvoe Castle Golf Club</span>

Wenvoe Castle Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course near Barry and Wenvoe in the Vale of Glamorgan off the A4050 road, situated to the south of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The club was founded in 1936 around Wenvoe Castle, a mansion that was the home of Hugh Jenner, the club's first president.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wales in the Late Middle Ages</span> Country of Wales between years 1282-1542

Wales in the Late Middle Ages spanned the years 1250-1500, those years covered the period involving the closure of Welsh medieval royal houses during the late 13th century, and Wales' final ruler of the House of Aberffraw, the Welsh Prince Llywelyn II, also the era of the House of Plantagenet from England, specifically the male line descendants of Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou as an ancestor of one of the Angevin kings of England who would go on to form the House of Tudor from England and Wales.

The year 1777 in architecture involved some significant architectural events and new buildings.

Edmund Thomas (1633–1677) was a Welsh politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1654 and 1656 and sat in Cromwell's Upper House. He supported the Parliamentary cause during the English Civil War and the Interregnum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morgraig Castle</span>

Morgraig Castle is a ruined castle, which lies close to the southern borders of the county borough of Caerphilly, overlooking Cardiff in Wales. It was built in the 13th century, but there is some debate as to who actually built the castle, either Gilbert de Clare or the Lord of Senghennydd. The castle appears to have never been occupied or completed. It is now a scheduled monument and a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fonmon</span> Human settlement in Wales

Fonmon is a hamlet in the Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales. It lies just off the B4265 road to the northwest of Font-y-Gary and Rhoose on the western side of Cardiff Airport. The hamlet is best known for its central duck pond and Fonmon Castle, a historical house located on the otherside of the B4265 road to the north. The largest house in the hamlet is called The Gables, accessed off a drive on the left approaching Fonmon from the north. A number of the houses in the area are thatched roofed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldsland</span> Human settlement in Wales

Goldsland is a small hamlet and farm in the Vale of Glamorgan in south Wales. It is located near the boundary of the Wenvoe Castle Golf Club in the parish of Wenvoe. It lies to the east of Dyffryn and south of St Lythans and the road leading from the west passes through the farms of Old and New Wallace. Goldsland Brook flows through here. A sub-manor was reportedly held at Goldsland by a Mathew of Llandaff under the manor of Wenvoe in 1583.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pencoedtre</span> District of Barry in Wales

Pencoedtre or Pencoetre, also known as Pencoedtre Village, is a northeastern suburb of Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It borders Gibbonsdown to the southwest and Cadoxton to the south. It has developed from a small farming hamlet into an extensive housing estate in recent years. Pencoedtre Wood is one of the largest areas of woodland in the town, and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Pencoedtre Park is located between Pencoedtre and Gibbonsdown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrinstone</span> Building in Vale of Glamorgan, Wales

Wrinstone or Wrinston is a medieval hamlet, just east of Wenvoe, Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. The Wrinstone estate was variously also known as Wrenston, Wrencheston or Wrenchester. The Barry Railway line ran past the hamlet and entered the Wenvoe Tunnel just to the north near Wenvoe Quarry. It closed after a fire in 1963.

A bibliography of books related to the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales.

Robert Francis Jenner of Wenvoe Castle was High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1828.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Birt</span> British businessman

Peter Birt was a businessman from Airmyn, Yorkshire, England, who made his fortune from the Aire and Calder Navigation and used part of his wealth to build the mansion named Wenvoe Castle. He became High Sheriff of Glamorgan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llanmihangel Place</span>

Llanmihangel Place is a Grade I listed manor house in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. It became a Grade I listed building on 16 December 1952. The house dates back to the 12th century, when it was constructed as a single-storey dwelling.

References

  1. Spurgeon, Clifford; Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (April 2000). An inventory of the ancient monuments in Glamorgan. H.M.S.O. ISBN   978-1-871184-22-8 . Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  2. Betham, William (1803). The Baronetage of England: or The History of the English baronets, and such baronets of Scotland, as are of English families; with genealogical tables, and engravings of their coats of arms. Burrell and Bransby. p. 110. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  3. "Glamorgan Archives Thomas family of Wenvoe Castle records". National Archives of Wales . Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  4. "About us". Wenvoe Castle Golf Club. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  5. The Jurist: containing reports of all cases determined in law and in equity; and a general digest of all cases published and statutes passed... with a table of cases and index. S. Sweet. 1867. p. 138. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  6. Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales (September 1981). An Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Glamorgan: Domestic architecture from the Reformation to the Industrial Revolution. pt. 1. The greater houses. H.M.S.O. p. 345. ISBN   978-0-11-700754-3 . Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  7. Williams, Stewart; Denning, R. T. W. Stewart Williams' Glamorgan historian. Vol. 7. D. Brown. p. 139. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  8. "Wenvoe Castle Golf Club". Welsh Golf Courses.com. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  9. Cadw. "Wenvoe Castle (PGW(Gm)33(GLA))". National Historic Assets of Wales . Retrieved 6 August 2022.