Great Castle House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Great Castle House |
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Great Castle House
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| General information | |
| Address | Castle Hill |
| Town or city | Monmouth |
| Country | Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°48′46″N 2°42′59″W / 51.8127°N 2.7164°W |
| Current tenants | Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers and Regimental Museum |
| Completed | 1673 |
| Client | Henry Somerset, the 3rd Marquis of Worcester |
| Designations | Grade I listed |
Great Castle House is a very old and important building in Monmouth, Wales. It was built right where part of Monmouth Castle used to stand. This house is considered one of the most important buildings in the town. It has a special "Grade I" listing, which means it's a very significant historical building. You can find it on Castle Hill, near Agincourt Square in the center of Monmouth.
The house was finished in 1673 for a powerful person named Henry Somerset. He was the 3rd Marquis of Worcester and a very important leader in Wales. Great Castle House was later used as a court, where legal cases were heard. This continued until 1725, when the court moved to a new building called Shire Hall. Since the mid-1800s, Great Castle House has been the main office for the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers. It also has a museum inside, which tells the story of this military group.
Contents
History of Great Castle House
Why the House Was Built
When Henry Somerset became the President of the Council of Wales, he needed a grand place to show his importance. This house was mostly for official meetings and fancy events. It was not really meant to be a family home. We don't know who the architect was who designed it.
Building Materials and Style
The house was built using pink and grey stone blocks. These stones probably came from the old castle's gatehouse and main tower. Those parts of the castle were taken down after the English Civil War. Some of the stone has been replaced more recently. You can still see parts of the old castle in the courtyard in front of the house.
The front of Great Castle House looks very balanced and grand. It has a beautiful and fancy main doorway. The two sections on the sides were added much later, in the 1800s. Originally, the house stood alone.
Inside the House
The inside of the house is amazing, especially the detailed plasterwork on the ceilings. On the first floor, there is a very large room with incredibly decorated ceilings. This big room used to be five smaller rooms. It was later combined to become the main courtroom. The plasterwork was done by skilled artists who traveled around. They used fancy designs, like hanging flowers tied with ribbons. These decorations were in the Marquis's private rooms.
Later Uses of the House
Soon after building Great Castle House, Henry Somerset became the Duke of Beaufort. He then needed even bigger homes. He moved to Troy House and later to Badminton House. Great Castle House was then changed to be used for court hearings.
When the courts moved to Shire Hall in 1725, the house became a place for judges to stay. For a while, part of it was rented out to someone who made drainage pipes. Later, the judges found other places to stay in town. From about 1760, Great Castle House became a fancy school for young ladies.
Museum and Military History
Headquarters of the Royal Engineers
In 1853, Great Castle House became the main office for a military group called the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers. This group is the oldest part of the Reserve Army. Most of the building is still used as their headquarters today.
The Castle and Regimental Museum
Part of the house now holds the Castle and Regimental Museum. This museum opened in 1989. It is usually open in the afternoons during the summer. The museum opens onto the King's Garden. This garden has plants that were known to grow during the time of King Henry V. He was born in Monmouth Castle.
The museum shows many interesting things. You can see military items and special uniforms from the regiment. It also tells about the important Dukes of Beaufort. You can learn about the old defenses of Monmouth and its castle. There are displays about HMS Monmouth and the military actions of the regiment from its beginning until now.
Gallery
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Great Castle House
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Great Castle House in 1959
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Russian Fortress Gun outside the museum
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Looking along the barrel of the Russian Fortress Gun
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Military Bulldozer
