Wenvoe Castle (The Gatehouse Record)

Wenvoe Castle

In the community of Wenvoe.
In the historic county of Glamorgan.
Modern authority of Vale of Glamorgan.
Preserved county of South Glamorgan.

OS Map Grid Reference: ST120713
Latitude 51.43391° Longitude -3.26759°

Wenvoe Castle has been described as a probable Masonry Castle, and also as a probable Fortified Manor House.

There are no visible remains.

Description

No trace survives of the medieval masonry castle or earthworks of Wenvoe Castle, but it is thought highly probable that a 17th century house and a second, 18th century castellated mansion of the same name (PRN 2188s), both now destroyed, stood on its site. The earliest mention of a castle is by Leland in c1536, although because of confusion in his topographical detail, the castle was recorded as sited at Wallston to the north-west of Wenvoe village. Other evidence points to its location to the south of the village, such as a document of 1540 which mentions the distinct settlements of 'Churcheton Winvo' (situated around the church sited in the village) and 'Castleton Winvo' identified as a former hamlet adjacent to the former Wenvoe Castle mansion, destroyed by the construction of a new park in the late-18th century. In 1594 the 'castle and ditches of Wenvoe' were leased from the Herbert family by Edmund Thomas who was to build a house on the site before his death in 1638. When this was replaced by a larger house in 1776-7 by the Birt family, surveyors recorded that the 17th century cellars and gate house may have incorporated fabric from the medieval castle. (Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust HER)

All the buildings… is down saving one tower and broken walls…' (Leland)

Sources of information, references and further reading

The National Monument Record (Coflein) number(s) for this site is/are 27995 (later house).
The County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number(s) for this site is/are 00007s.

Books
- Davis, Paul, R., 2011, The Forgotten Castles of Wales (Almeley: Logaston Press) p. 101-108 (mention)
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 172
  Hague, D.B., 1971, in Pugh, T.B. (ed), Glamorgan County History Vol. 3 The Middle Ages (Cardiff) p. 447
  Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales online copy
Periodical Articles
- Spurgeon, C.J. with Roberts, D.J. and Thomas, H.J., 1999, 'Supposed Castles in Glamorgan; A review' Archaeology in Wales Vol. 39 27-40
  Spurgeon, C.J. and Thomas, H.J., 1978, 'Medieval Glamorgan' Morgannwg Vol. 22 p. 26-7 online copy
  James, 1974-6, Cardiff Naturalists' Society Vol. 98 p. 4-7
  Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132
Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
- Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1906, Leland's Itinerary in Wales (Bell and Sons; London) p. 23 online copy

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The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology, the Castle Studies Group and others.

Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link.
Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here.

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This record last updated before 1 February 2016

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