Fonmon Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fonmon Castle |
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| Welsh: Castell Ffwl-y-mwn | |
| Fonmon, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales | |
Fonmon Castle in 2013
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 Fonmon Castle
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| Coordinates | 51°24′13″N 3°22′15″W / 51.4037°N 3.3708°W |
| Type | Historic house museum |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Private |
Fonmon Castle (also known as Welsh: Castell Ffwl-y-mwn) is an old castle near Fonmon in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It's a very important building, listed as Grade I. The castle's beautiful gardens are also special, listed as Grade II. This castle started way back in the 1100s. It's unique because it was changed a lot in the 1700s but didn't get a "Gothic" makeover like many others. For most of its history, only two families owned it: the St Johns from Norman times, and then the Jones family from 1656 onwards.
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History of Fonmon Castle
It's a bit tricky to know the exact early history of Fonmon Castle. Most of what we know comes from studying how it was built. There's a fun story that says Oliver St John, one of the Twelve Knights of Glamorgan, built the castle. These knights were part of the Norman conquest of Glamorgan. However, this story is now thought to be a legend.
Early Days and Norman Influence
Experts believe a wooden fort might have stood here after the Normans arrived in Wales. Stone parts were likely added around the year 1200. You can still see thick walls near the entrance that look like they're from the 1100s. These show there was a small, rectangular tower, about 8 by 13 meters.
In the 1200s, a strong curtain wall was built on the east side of the tower. This wall led towards a steep slope. Later, a much bigger L-shaped building was added to the south. A tower was also built at the corner of this new section. The thickest walls are along the eastern edge, which is interesting because that was the hardest side to attack. This suggests other defenses might have protected the south and west sides.
The St. John family likely built these early parts of the castle. They owned Fonmon Castle throughout the Middle Ages, until 1656. The next big change happened in the 1500s. A short north wing was added, built over a basement with a rounded ceiling.
Changes Over the Centuries
Fonmon Castle survived the English Civil War without much damage. The St. John family supported the Parliamentarians during the war. But soon after, they faced money problems. So, they sold the castle to Colonel Philip Jones in 1656.
Colonel Jones is thought to have improved the rooms on the east side. He also added a new, deeper wing to the north. After he passed away, his son Oliver took over the castle from 1678 to 1685.
It was Oliver's great-grandson, Robert Jones III, who made the next major changes. He married Jane Seys, who inherited land from the Seys family of Boverton. In 1762, they started big improvements. They hired Thomas Paty of Bristol to help. His company added a smooth outer layer to the castle and made the battlements look more like a traditional castle.
Modern Era and New Beginnings
The castle estate saw less work in the 1800s. Only an entrance porch was added, and the south wing was extended between 1840 and 1878. In 1917, the castle passed to Sir Seymour Boothby through marriage.
In 2019, Nigel Ford bought the castle and about 350 acres of its land. He started an exciting 'wilding' project to help nature and improve the variety of plants and animals in the area.
In 2020, after the castle was sold to a local businessman, new things were added for visitors. Fonmon Castle became a great place for families to visit! You can now find a history-themed area, Jurrasic Wales, a Medieval Farm, and a Welsh Story Trail. There are also woodland walks and play areas. The re-wilding project and archaeology work continue.
The castle also hosts many events throughout the year. These include paranormal investigations, music festivals, and a classic car show. They also have special themed events during school holidays, Halloween, and Christmas. As of 2024, True Aim Activities is also based at the park. They offer fun activities like archery, axe throwing, and nature-based experiences.
In early 2024, an old cemetery from the 500s or 600s was found in a field on the castle grounds. This shows how much history is hidden there!
Architecture of Fonmon Castle
Exterior Design
Fonmon Castle is surrounded by large gardens. These gardens are so special they are listed as Grade II. The castle is built from local stone, mostly limestone and a type of stone called blue lias. Inside, there's one arched doorway made of Sutton stone. However, most of the stonework is covered in grey plaster. The roofs are made of different types of slates with lead gutters.
The main castle building has two or three floors and battlements almost everywhere. Except for the tower in the southeast corner, which is a bit taller, the walls are mostly the same height.
In the grounds, southwest of the main house, there's an 18th-century stable building. This stable actually includes parts of a much older medieval barn. The south and east walls of the stable have battlements to make them look impressive to visitors. The stable also has a unique stone chimney. This chimney is a rare medieval find, brought from East Orchard Farm. The Jones family got East Orchard Farm in 1756. They took the best stonework from it before leaving the building.
Further south, you'll find a battlemented watch tower. It was built in the 1600s or 1700s and might have been inspired by a similar tower at St Donats. It seems the watch tower was built in two stages. It might even be built on top of older medieval ruins. Even though it looks like it's from the 1500s, it doesn't appear on maps from 1622. But it does show up on maps from 1770. This means it was built sometime in that period. It's thought that Robert Jones III built it during his castle improvements. It's made of local limestone covered in lime plaster. It was given Grade II* listed building status in 1952. This was because it's an interesting example of an old watchtower and adds to the beauty of Fonmon Castle's gardens.
Interior Features
Inside Fonmon Castle, one of the most amazing parts is the combined grand drawing room and library. It was designed by Thomas Stocking. One expert called it the "glory of Fonmon." The library runs from east to west and gets light from two special windows. There's a stone Venetian window on the west wall and a wooden oriel window with sashes on the east.
The room is split into three parts. The biggest part is in the middle, with square sections at each end. These end sections have rounded arches. You can see hunting trophies carved into the spaces above the arches. The flat ceiling is decorated with fancy patterns and wreaths. In the very center, there's a carving of the god Apollo's head surrounded by a sunburst.
