Red Buckeye – Aesculus pavia

by | Dec 19, 2023 | Red Buckeye

How Can We Help?
You are here:
< Back

Penhow Castle, Penhow, Newport dates from the early 12th century. Extended and reconstructed in almost every century since, it has been claimed to be the oldest continuously-inhabited castle in Wales. The castle is a Grade II* listed building.

History

The manor of Penhow was held by Caradog ap Gruffydd, prince of Gwent at the time of the Norman invasion of Wales.[1] The estate was seized by the Seymour family (anciently de St. Maur) and by 1129, Sir Roger de St Maur had built a fortified manor at the site. The house was extended and further fortified in the 15th and 17th centuries.[1] In the 16th century the manor passed to the Somersets. In 1674, it was purchased by the Lewis family of St Pierre.[2] Viscount Rhondda, an industrialist and conservator of ancient buildings in Wales, bought the castle in 1914.[3] By the mid-20th century, the castle was in a state of some dilapidation, until bought and restored by the film director Stephen Weeks.[4] During his tenure the castle was open to the public, while also serving as Weeks’ residence. In 2002 it was sold and reverted to a private home.[5] Penhow is frequently claimed to be the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Wales.[a][7][4]

Architecture and description

The architectural historian John Newman, in his Gwent/Monmouthshire Pevsner, describes Penhow as "small and [un]convincingly defensive".[8] It is constructed of local Old red sandstone rubble.[1] The oldest portion of the castle is the west tower, which dates from the time of the Seymours. The two-storeyed hall range is later, of the 14th-15th centuries.[8] Further large-scale remodelling took place in the 17th and 18th centuries, when the castle was refashioned as a comfortable country house. The Cadw listing records notes the "exceptionally fine Restoration period interiors”. The castle is listed Grade II*.[1]

Two ranges of ancillary buildings contain some important agricultural structures, each with their own listings; the grouping immediately to the south-west of the castle includes a barn[9] and a byre.[10] The grouping farther from the castle to the south includes another barn,[11] a further byre[12] and a stable block.[13]

Notes

  1. ^ John Newman suggests Cardiff Castle, Fonmon Castle and St Donat's Castle as alternative claimants.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Cadw. "Penhow Castle (Grade II*) (3078)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Penhow Castle". www.castlewales.com. Castles of Wales. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Penhow Castle (The Gatehouse Record)". www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info. The Gatehouse Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b Staff writer (16 April 2003). "Has Penhow Castle got American owners?". www.southwalesargus.co.uk. South Wales Argus.
  5. ^ "Castle closes gates to visitors". BBC News. December 31, 2002. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  6. ^ Newman 1995, p. 552.
  7. ^ "Penhow Castle". www.castlexplorer.co.uk. Castles of England, Scotland & Wales. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  8. ^ a b Newman 2000, pp. 464–465.
  9. ^ Cadw. "Barn to south-west of Penhow Castle (Grade II) (3056)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  10. ^ Cadw. "L-shaped Byre Range to south-west of Penhow Castle (Grade II) (17079)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  11. ^ Cadw. "Five bay Barn and attached Byre to far south-west of Penhow Castle (Grade II) (17080)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  12. ^ Cadw. "L-shaped Byre Range to far south-west of Penhow Castle (Grade II) (17082)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  13. ^ Cadw. "Stable Block to far south-west of Penhow Castle (Grade II) (17081)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 22 March 2020.

Sources

Categories
Table of Contents