Benton Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Benton Castle |
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| Burton, Pembrokeshire | |
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| Coordinates | 51°43′31″N 4°53′22″W / 51.72514°N 4.88933°W |
| Type | Norman |
| Site information | |
| Open to the public |
No |
| Condition | Restored, private dwelling |
| Site history | |
| Battles/wars | English Civil War |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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Benton Castle is a small old fort located in Burton, Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It sits in a wooded area and looks out over the River Cleddau. Today, it is a private home.
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History of Benton Castle
Benton Castle was likely built in the 1200s. It was one of several castles that guarded the borders of an old area called Rhos. We don't know much about its very first owners. But in the 1300s, a person named Thomas de Roche owned it. He was the Lord of Llangwm.
A map from 1583 shows the castle on the west side of the Eastern Cleddau river. George Owen also wrote about it in 1603. The river nearby was very busy with boats and trade until recent times.
The Civil War and Damage
People say that Benton Castle was used and damaged during the English Civil War. This war happened in England and Wales in the mid-1600s. Many castles, including Benton, were almost completely destroyed during this time.
What Old Writers Said
In 1811, a writer named Richard Fenton described the castle. He said it looked a lot like Roch Castle. He noted that its main tower was almost round. The top part of the tower was shaped like an octagon. He also thought there were more buildings attached to the tower.
Later, in 1844, Samuel Lewis wrote about the castle. He said it was on the western shore of the haven. He believed it was built by the Normans. They likely built it to protect the land they had taken over. He mentioned that the castle was not very big at first. What was left of it looked very pretty. It had a tall, round tower that stood out above the trees.
In 1888, Edward Laws described Benton Castle. He said it was part of a chain of castles. These castles protected south Pembrokeshire. They were especially important for guarding Milford Haven from attacks. He called it a simple round tower. It had an octagon-shaped top that was probably added later.
Inside the Tower
The tower originally had three levels. But the floors were made of wood, so they are gone now. There were no fireplaces inside. Also, there were no stairs. This means people probably used ladders to get to different rooms. The tower was likely used as a lookout point. It was also a safe place to hide when there was extreme danger. Soldiers lived in a small area around the castle. This area was protected by earthworks, which are walls made of earth.
Castle Renovation
The castle ruins were made stable in the early 1900s. This means they were fixed so they wouldn't fall down. The castle was empty until 1930. After that, it was fixed up and made new again. By 1954, the courtyard of the castle had a roof. The building was sold in the 1960s. More work was done to restore it then.
Today, the castle is painted white. It is a "Grade II* listed" building. This means it is a very important historical building. It is special because it is a rare example of a small medieval castle that has been restored.
