Penrice Castle facts for kids
Penrice Castle (which is Castell Pen-rhys in Welsh) is an old castle from the 1200s. It is located near Penrice, Swansea on the Gower Peninsula in Wales. Right next to the castle, there's also a grand mansion built in the 1770s.
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The Castle's Story
Penrice Castle was built in the 13th century. Before this stone castle, there was an older, strong fort nearby called the Mountybank. The de Penrice family built the castle. They received the land because they helped with the Norman conquest of Gower. This was when Normans took control of parts of Wales.
Later, in 1410, the last person from the de Penrice family married into the Mansel family. This meant the castle and its lands then belonged to the Mansels. The Mansel family eventually bought Margam Abbey and made it their main home. However, they still owned the lands in Gower. The castle was damaged during the English Civil War in the 1600s.
What the Castle Looks Like
The stone castle has a large, uneven shape, like a hexagon. It has a round tower, called a keep, on its west side. Two other towers and a partial outer wall were also attached to it. At the north-west corner, there is a gatehouse with two square towers. Another tower stands inside.
The ground around the castle drops steeply to the north, east, south, and south-west. There are other smaller towers in these areas. Today, the castle is not safe to enter. However, you can see the south wall from a walking path. This path goes past the mansion on the estate.
The Mansion and Gardens
A beautiful mansion was built in the 1770s by a famous architect named Anthony Keck. He designed it for Thomas Mansel Talbot, who lived from 1747 to 1813. The mansion is considered one of the best country houses in Wales. It is a Grade I listed building, meaning it is very important historically.
While the mansion was being built, the surrounding park was also designed. This happened between 1773 and 1776. William Emes, who followed the style of Capability Brown, created the park. The park is also a Grade I listed site.
A Collector's Home
Thomas Mansel Talbot built the mansion to display his large collection of old artifacts and artworks. He traveled to Italy between 1769 and 1773. There, he bought many ancient items from well-known dealers like Thomas Jenkins and Gavin Hamilton. He also bought modern furniture and sculptures.
His collections were shipped from Italy in 1772 and 1775. They were put on display after he got married in 1792. Much of this collection was later moved to Margam Castle. It was then sold at an auction in 1941.
Life at Penrice
We know a lot about the Penrice household and family from 1799 to 1806. This information comes from the published diaries and letters of Agnes Porter. She was a governess from Scotland. Joanna Martin found these old writings in the castle attic around 1973 and put them together.
Today, the Methuen-Campbell family lives in the mansion. They are direct descendants of the original de Penrice family.
