Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Summerhouse Tower
Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Miscellaneous
- Date of designation
- 16 December 2004
- Locality
- Boverton
- Town
- Cowbridge / Y Bont-Faen
- Community
- Llantwit Major
- Unitary authority
- Vale of Glamorgan
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.38842, -3.44684
- Cadw reference
- 83402
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
In the centre of Summerhouse Fort on the cliffs in the far south-easterly corner of Llantwit Major Community.
History
Part of a picturesque concept of a toy fort to be used as a summerhouse, look-out and picnic place on the top of the cliffs. It is built in the middle of the Iron Age cliff castle of Summerhouse Camp and dates probably from the period of 1780-1820 when such conceits were popular. During WWII it was apparently used as a site for a defensive point of some kind. The early history of the fort is unknown.
Exterior
Built of local limestone rubble in the form of an octagonal tower in the centre of the fort. Two storeys, and presumably with a viewing platform on the roof, but it is now much damaged and the surviving windws mere openings or blocked. Doorway on the north side with almost flat arch.
Interior
It had two internal floors; there is evidence of a fireplace in the main room but no sign of a staircase.
Reason for designation
Included for its special interest as a picturesque folly dating from about 1800.
Nearby in the register
- Summerhouse FortMiscellaneousunder 1 mi
- Summerhouse CampHillfortunder 1 mi
- Limpert Bay Anti-invasion DefencesAnti Invasion Defence Siteunder 1 mi
- Batslays FarmhouseDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.