Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
St Quintin's Castle (Llanblethian Castle)
Cowbridge with Llanblethian, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Defence
- Date of designation
- 22 February 1963
- Locality
- Llanblethian
- Community
- Cowbridge with Llanblethian
- Unitary authority
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.45751, -3.45639
- Cadw reference
- 13146
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
About 450m NE of Llanblethian church on spur of land above loop in River Thaw.
History
Although known as St Quintin's Castle, after the first Lords of Llanblethian, the St Quintin family were dispossessed in 1233 by Richard Siward, upon whose outlawry in 1245, the castle passed to Richard de Clare, Lord of Glamorgan. Only the ruinous keep of C12 can be associated with the St Quintin family. The gatehouse belongs with the newly fortified enclosure probably begun circa 1312 by Gilbert III de Clare, killed at Bannockburn in 1314. There are stylistic links with Caerphilly castle. From C15 onwards castle was used as a prison.
Exterior
Gatehouse (set forward from curtain wall) in local grey lias stone with dressings of buff Sutton stone. Central Gothic archway (provision for portcullis) flanked by towers with splayed corners. Cruciform arrow loops at ground floor level, most of dressed stone from windows and upper loops lost. Smaller arch in rear face of gatehouse. The remains of the curtain wall enclose an irregular quadrilateral about 52m by 50m; foundations of towers at angles N and S of gatehouse, and turret to NW. In centre of enclosure, remains of C12 keep.
Reason for designation
Listed for as substantial remains of medieval castle.
Scheduled Ancient Monument Cadw No Gm 94.
Nearby in the register
- Llanblethian CastleCastleunder 1 mi
- Great House with Forecourt Walls & GatepiersDomesticunder 1 mi
- Telephone Call-Box Near Brook CottageCommunicationsunder 1 mi
- Llanblethian House and No2, including Forecourt walls and railingsDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.