PENCOED CASTLE, Llanmartin, Gwent 1997
Notes on PENCOED CASTLE, Llanmartin, Gwent 1997
At its core this is a small medieval castle, enlarged and grandiose, but after 1750s the house began its slow decline with much work left incomplete and further restoration abandoned after a fire in the mid 1950s.
Many uses have been proposed, even a theme park, but it remains ever derelict but not yet beyond repair. It is made up of a vast range of rooms and extensions but Pencoed was a surprising find, not due to its size or castle/house-like features but more due to its prime location and the fact it is empty, unused and quickly deteriorating. Large gate house stands imposing before the house.
Pencoed 1997
Pencoed 1997
Pencoed 1997
Pencoed 1997
Pencoed 1997
At its core this is a small medieval castle, enlarged and grandiose, but after 1750s the house began its slow decline with much work left incomplete and further restoration abandoned after a fire in the mid 1950s.
Many uses have been proposed, even a theme park, but it remains ever derelict but not yet beyond repair. It is made up of a vast range of rooms and extensions but Pencoed was a surprising find, not due to its size or castle/house-like features but more due to its prime location and the fact it is empty, unused and quickly deteriorating. Large gate house stands imposing before the house.
Pencoed 1997
Pencoed 1997
Pencoed 1997
Pencoed 1997
Pencoed 1997
|
Comments
By Dennis Morgan: I am a direct descendant of
Sir Thomas Morgan, Wondering if you can
tell me what the current condition of the Castle is in ? By morgan ferris: we live next to the castle in the old farm house, the castle is in a terrible state has metal screens over the doors and windows, and is home to tousands of birds and not much else, apparently there are plans to renovate and make apartments in the castle, and the old barns, but when this is likely to happen in the present climate is anybodies guess, By Andrew Brown: Hey,
I'm a descendant of Sir Thomas Morgan also, would like to come visit the castle someday soon, either this summer or next summer. Do you know who the current owners are? Morgan Ferris; please E mail me at andrewbrown1967@hotmail
Thanks!
Andrew By Yvonne Powell: I used to play in the castle as a child in the 1960's. The castle was owned by the father of a school friend of mine called Sally Williams. The family lived in a bungalow to the side of the castle; Mr Williams farmed the land and the castle was used to house thousands of chickens.
At the time, I believe one of the rooms above the keep was habitable and lived in by a farm hand. I clearly remember when going up to the top to look over the battlements, that this area always struck me as being very new and unused.
Perhaps this was why I always believed the story that the castle had never been finished because it was built for the daughter of the Lord of the Manor, who, when she had married beneath her, was disowned by her family. The story was that this broke her father’s heart and he could never bring himself to complete the castle. Whether this was the case I don’t know, but to a twelve year old, this romantic story was very believable. By Alison Driscoll: Hi Paul
I live in one of the flats next to the castle and I am sure I have previously seen a black and white photo of the gatehouse in the winter. I thought it had some spooky trees, can you contact me to confirm what photos you have that I could buy? I am particaulrly interested in black and white. Thanks Alison Driscoll By Michael Mason: My mother is Mrs.Gladys Morgan from Morgan in Clarendon, Jamaica. A decent from the slaves on Morgan's Sugar plantation Estate in Morgan, Clarendon in Jamaica. I will be coming to Wales to visit the Castle and Mr. Pennants Family's Castle near Bangor in Wales. A town is also named after him in Clarendon where my Dad purchase land in Calrendon. I will also be going back to the Morgans's estate in Jamaica to claim a piece of land which my family worked on.
I know the owmers of the land.
My Dad is Mr. Elijah Mason who married Mrs. Morgan
Michael Mason By pip van Renswoude-Davies: It has been a nice suprise to find so much about this wonderful bit of archetcture on the web. I first came accross the castle some twenty-five years ago while living and working in the area.
I have since qualified as an Historian (admittedly in a different epoch to 1300 - 1700's) but would be very interested in looking around the castle if possible (hard hat included, of course!)and recording what is there before too much deteriorates. By Peter Morgan: We bought the property off Jim Williams in 2003. We are very keen to keep all the buildings within one ownership, rather than convert and sell off individual bits. There is no way we would consider spliting the castle into apartments it needs to be left as one. We are hoping to do a similar scheme to what we have done at Llancayo Court Usk, with the House being left as 3 rental units, the barns being converted to office's for rental and the Castle as one single holiday let, which would sleep 22, similar to what we have done with Llancayo Windmill. It is likely to be a few years before we start restoration, but in the meantime we do ensure that the roof and gutters are maintained. We need to keep the castle locked up for safty and security reasons as around 20 of the coping stones were stolen just before the purchase. We are quite happy to open up and shown people around if anyone wants a look, email and I'll arrange something in the Summer. To view our restoration of the Windmill type Llancayo & Windmill into Google. By Rob Hardy: I used to go to the castle and collect the unwanted tiny chicken eggs from Mrs Handy 1968-9 By bill page: My mother Gladys Pattie Williams lived in the farmhouse by it and Grandfather Williams farmed the land or was caretaker ofthe castle.If you know more detail please let me know By bill page: e mail williampage568@talktalk.com Grandfather Thomas Henry Williams was born c.1850 at Llanmartin and from Castle Farm moved to Eye Hereford then to Overton Shropshire By bill page: eMail address correction to net and it was aunt Margaret Williams there as my mother was born later.Hoping to visit eventually.