Penhow Castle

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][6][4]

Architecture and description

The architectural historian John Newman, in his Gwent/Monmouthshire Pevsner, describes Penhow as "small and [un]convincingly defensive".^[7] 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.^[7] 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^[8] and a byre.^[9] The grouping further from the castle to the south includes an additional barn,^[10] another byre^[11] and a stable block.^[12]

Notes

1. ^ John Newman suggests Cardiff Castle, Fonmon Castle and St Donat's Castle as alternative claimants.^[13]

References

1. ^
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. ^ 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. ^ "Penhow Castle". www.castlexplorer.co.uk. Castles of England, Scotland & Wales. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
7. ^ Newman 2000, pp. 464–465.
8. ^
9. ^
10. ^
11. ^
12. ^
13. ^ Newman 1995, p. 552.

Sources

• Newman, John (1995). Glamorgan. The Buildings of Wales. London: Penguin Books. ISBN 9780140710564. OCLC 231881843
• Newman, John (2000). Gwent/Monmouthshire. The Buildings of Wales. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-14-071053-1.