Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Watchtower at Fonmon Castle
Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
A Grade II* listed building in Fonmon, Barry, Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan, designated on 14 February 1952.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Domestic
- Date of designation
- 14 February 1952
- Locality
- Fonmon
- Town
- Barry
- Community
- Rhoose
- Unitary authority
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.40259, -3.37024
- Cadw reference
- 83166
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
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1636 map "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1636 · Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ... (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1637 · The fourth table of England. Cornub. Devonia, Somerset etc. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1858 · 20. Bridgewater. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1865 · England and Wales. England No. 6. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1897 · 262 Pontypridd (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
About 200m south of Fonmon Castle.
History
The tower is evidently of two builds as there is a straight joint down the centre of the bottom stages. The first build appears too slight a construction to be part of the medieval castle outworks so the next possibility suggests a late C16 look-out tower as at St. Donats Castle. However, it does not appear on the estate plan of 1622 and in theory could have been built at any time between then and the estate map of c1770 which does show it. It can thus probably be associated with Robert Jones III and his improvements to the castle of a medievalizing sort in the 1760s undertaken by Thomas Paty. This tower was doubled in size and heightened to its present dimension probably in the late C18 when it was also gravel rendered. The tower was a little altered in the C19 with real medieval features which cut through the render, and since then nothing apart from c2000 repairs intended to convert it to a dovecot. The top floor has a number of blocked windows which are not evident from the ground, which would have made it into a fine gazebo for viewing the surrounding countryside and seascape. The tower is extremely similar in character and appearance to the rather earlier Watch tower at St. Donats Castle (qv St. Donats Community) upon which it may well have been based.
Exterior
Built of local roughly coursed limestone rubble, which has been lime-plastered at some time on the lower part and is partly rendered. Tall narrow rectangular tower with battered base. Four storeys, but built into the bank so that only the first build has the additional under-storey. The first floor has a square headed modern opening on the land side (north). The second floor has a pointed arch door into the dovecot, slit vent to right and another to rear. c2000 oak window with lintel above on north side, this is for the doves. The original build has a blocked window above the slit vent, which lit the third floor. Above this is an additional room (see History). Machicolations on the long walls only, square headed window on north, 2-light window on west, blind on east and south (but see History). Castellated parapet, the roof has gone.
Interior
Interior not available at resurvey. It is said to be largely featureless except for the still in-situ central wall and the remains of good quality lime plaster in the topmost room.
Reason for designation
Included as an interesting example of a C16 and late C18 look-out tower and for its group value within the gardens of Fonmon Castle.
Nearby in the register
- Retaining Walls of South Garden at Fonmon CastleDomesticunder 1 mi
- Stable Block at Fonmon CastleDomesticunder 1 mi
- Fonmon CastleDomesticunder 1 mi
- Walls of Walled Gardens at Fonmon CastleDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.