335:. It is believed the watch tower was constructed in two builds, and may have been founded on original ruined medieval stonework. Although it appears to be of 16th century design, it does not appear on the estate plan of 1622, but does appear on the plans of 1770 giving a wide window for its construction date. Due to its time scale and features, it is assumed to have been constructed during the medievalizing improvements carried out by Robert Jones III. It is constructed of local roughly coursed limestone rubble, which has been lime-plastered. It was given
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253:. It is believed that Jones then improved the rooms on the east range, and added a double-depth wing to the north side. Upon Jones' death, the castle was passed down to his son, Oliver, who owned the castle from 1678 to 1685. It was Oliver's great-grandson, Robert Jones III, who was to make the next major redevelopment to the castle. He married Jane Seys, heiress to the Seys of
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313:; but are covered in grey render which disguises much of the stonework. The roofs are of mixed slates with lead gutters and dressings. The main building is of two and three storeys and castellated almost throughout. Apart from the south east corner tower, which is slightly higher, the walls are largely uniform in height.
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was added to the east side of the keep leading towards a steep scarp. This was followed by a much larger L-shaped build to the south with a south-east tower added at the angle. The east wall along the ravine edge has the castle's thickest walls, which is a curiosity as this would have been the most
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In 2020, after the sale of the castle to a local businessman, new visitor facilities were added to the grounds turning it into a fantastic day out for all the family, including a history-themed attraction, Jurrasic Wales, Medieval Farm, Welsh Story Trail, Woodland Walks, Play Areas and more. In
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The estate went into a period of decline in the 19th century, and little work was done to the castle except for the addition of the entrance porch, and the extension to the south wing in the period between 1840 and 1878. The castle passed by marriage to Sir
Seymour Boothby of the
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in 1917. In 2019, the castle, and some 350 acres of the surviving estate, was acquired by Nigel Ford. Amongst several other initiatives, a forward-thinking and extensive 'wilding' project has commenced in an effort to improve the biodiversity of the area.
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addition, there is a re-wilding project and
Archeaology. They also have events running throughout the year such as Paranormal Investigations, Music Festivals, a Classic Car Show, Themed events throughout school holidays, Halloween and Christmas events.
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difficult side to attack. It is therefore believed that some other defensive structure may have existed to protect the more vulnerable south and west approaches. These early constructions are thought to have been undertaken by the St. John family (see
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The origins of Fonmon Castle are poorly documented and most of its early history has been discovered through studying its architecture. A popular myth exists that the castle was built by Oliver St John of Fonmon, one of the
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201:. The castle is believed to have remained under the ownership of just two families throughout its history; from Norman times, it was owned by the St Johns, and from 1656, by the descendants of
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197:. With its origins rooted in the 12th century it is today seen as a great architectural rarity, as it is one of few buildings that was drastically remodelled in the 18th century, but not
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In the grounds, to the south west of the house, there is an 18th-century stable which incorporates a late medieval barn. The south and east walls of the stable are
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to impress those approaching from the south. The stable has a fine polygonal stone chimney, which is a rare surviving medieval find, taken from East
Orchard Farm,
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status in 1952, with the reason given "an interesting example of a C16 and late C18 look-out tower and for its group value within the gardens of Fonmon Castle".
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to the east. The room is divided into three sections, the largest central, with square end bays with segmental arches. There are trophies of the chase in the
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who effected the Norman conquest of
Glamorgan. It has since been shown that this was a legendary tale given credence by a "historic" recount in the 1560s by
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The park as of 2024 is also now home to True Aim
Activities, hosting Archery, Axe Throwing and nature based activities.
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There is speculation that a defensive fortification made of timber was built on the site of Fonmon Castle soon after the
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In early 2024, a cemetery from the 6th or 7th centuries was uncovered in a field on the castle grounds.
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513:"Fonmon Castle opens new attractions including a living history village and dinosaur park"
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of either 17th or 18th century design, thought to have been modelled on the one found at
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Fonmon Castle is situated in extensive gardens which are designated Grade II on the
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Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and
Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales
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Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales
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and wreaths adorn the flat of the ceiling with an Apollo head in a
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rubble. There is one arched internal doorway which appears to be
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Registered historic parks and gardens in the Vale of
Glamorgan
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building. The castle's gardens are designated Grade II on the
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771:Grade I listed buildings in the Vale of Glamorgan
539:"Mysterious medieval cemetery unearthed in Wales"
422:"Fonmon Castle, Rhoose (Grade I) (13597)"
241:The castle survived being damaged during the
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691:"The Manor and Castle of Fonmon, near Barry"
347:Notable features include the combined grand
714:Vale of Glamorgan website about the castle
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537:Morelle, Rebecca; Francis, Alison.
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574:National Historic Assets of Wales
427:National Historic Assets of Wales
751:Castles in the Vale of Glamorgan
736:Museums in the Vale of Glamorgan
569:"Fonmon Castle (PGW(Gm)39(GLA))"
327:Further south is a battlemented
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766:Grade I listed castles in Wales
761:Houses in the Vale of Glamorgan
741:Historic house museums in Wales
293:The watchtower at Fonmon Castle
781:Georgian architecture in Wales
511:Sharon Harris (24 July 2020).
475:"The Normans in Welsh History"
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216:Twelve Knights of Glamorgan
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689:Thomas, Howard J. (1999),
640:. British Listed Buildings
667:. London: Penguin Group.
351:and library, designed by
337:Grade II* listed building
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227:Norman invasion of Wales
756:Country houses in Wales
517:Barry and District News
719:6 January 2009 at the
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709:Fonmon Castle website
663:Newman, John (1995).
453:british-history.ac.uk
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236:Viscounts Bolingbroke
141:Historic house museum
64:Fonmon Castle in 2013
251:Colonel Philip Jones
220:Sir Edward Stradling
203:Colonel Philip Jones
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367:of the arches and
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179:Castell Ffwl-y-mwn
122:51.4037°N 3.3708°W
33:Castell Ffwl-y-mwn
243:English Civil War
187:Vale of Glamorgan
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479:academia.edu
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456:. Retrieved
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361:oriel window
349:drawing room
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311:Sutton stone
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280:Architecture
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231:curtain wall
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616:Newman 1995
604:Newman 1995
499:Newman 1995
433:12 February
329:watch tower
318:castellated
125: /
101:Coordinates
730:Categories
674:0140710566
545:. BBC News
379:References
369:arabesques
199:Gothicized
110:51°24′13″N
695:Morgannwg
665:Glamorgan
549:3 January
365:spandrels
333:St Donats
307:blue lias
303:limestone
113:3°22′15″W
717:Archived
580:6 August
543:BBC News
373:sunburst
343:Interior
322:St Athan
285:Exterior
255:Boverton
644:6 April
522:15 June
458:6 April
209:History
185:in the
159:Website
154:Private
671:
189:and a
183:Fonmon
43:Fonmon
175:Welsh
151:Owner
51:Wales
29:Welsh
669:ISBN
646:2016
582:2022
565:Cadw
551:2024
524:2021
460:2016
435:2023
418:Cadw
305:and
138:Type
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
