# Penhow Castle

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**Penhow Castle**, [Penhow](/source/Penhow,_Newport), [Newport](/source/Newport,_Wales) 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](/source/Listed_building).

## History

The manor of Penhow was held by [Caradog ap Gruffydd](/source/Caradog_ap_Gruffydd), prince of [Gwent](/source/Kingdom_of_Gwent) at the time of the [Norman invasion of Wales](/source/Norman_invasion_of_Wales).[1] The estate was seized by the [Seymour family (anciently *de St. Maur*)](/source/Seymour_family) 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](/source/Duke_of_Somerset). In 1674, it was purchased by the Lewis family of [St Pierre](/source/St_Pierre_Hotel_Gatehouse).[2] [Viscount Rhondda](/source/D._A._Thomas), 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](/source/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](/source/John_Newman_(architectural_historian)), in his *Gwent/Monmouthshire* [Pevsner](/source/Pevsner_Architectural_Guides), describes Penhow as "small and [un]convincingly defensive".[7] It is constructed of local [Old red sandstone](/source/Old_red_sandstone) [rubble](/source/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](/source/Cadw) listing records notes the "exceptionally fine [Restoration period](/source/Restoration_style) interiors”. The castle is [listed Grade II*](/source/Listed_building).[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](/source/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](/source/John_Newman_(architectural_historian)) suggests [Cardiff Castle](/source/Cardiff_Castle), [Fonmon Castle](/source/Fonmon_Castle) and [St Donat's Castle](/source/St_Donat's_Castle) as alternative claimants.[13]

## References

1. ["Penhow Castle"](http://www.castlewales.com/penhow.html). *www.castlewales.com*. Castles of Wales. Retrieved 22 March 2020.

1. ["Penhow Castle (The Gatehouse Record)"](http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/Welshsites/591.html). *www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info*. The Gatehouse Gazetteer. Retrieved 22 March 2020.

1. Staff writer (16 April 2003). ["Has Penhow Castle got American owners?"](http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/4611913.Has_Penhow_Castle_got_American_owners_/). *www.southwalesargus.co.uk*. South Wales Argus.

1. ["Castle closes gates to visitors"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/2618151.stm). BBC News. December 31, 2002. Retrieved 22 March 2020.

1. ["Penhow Castle"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150414005144/http://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/wales/penhow/penhow.html). *www.castlexplorer.co.uk*. Castles of England, Scotland & Wales. Archived from [the original](https://www.castlexplorer.co.uk/wales/penhow/penhow.html) on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 25 May 2018.

1. Newman 2000, pp. 464–465.

1. Newman 1995, p. 552.

## Sources

- Newman, John (1995). *Glamorgan*. The Buildings of Wales. London: [Penguin Books](/source/Penguin_Books). ISBN 9780140710564. [OCLC 231881843](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/231881843)
- Newman, John (2000). [*Gwent/Monmouthshire*](https://books.google.com/books?id=knRf4U60QjcC&dq=The+Buildings+of+Wales%3A+Gwent%2FMonmouthshire&pg=PA2). The Buildings of Wales. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-14-071053-1.

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