St Fagans Castle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Fagans Castle
Native name Welsh: Castell Sain Ffagan
The approach to St Fagans Castle
Location	St Fagans, Cardiff, Wales
Built	c. 1580s
Architectural style(s)	Elizabethan
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name: St Fagans Castle
Designated	10 June 1977
Reference no.	13888
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St Fagans Castle (which is Castell Sain Ffagan in Welsh) is a beautiful old house in St Fagans, Cardiff, Wales. It was built in the late 1500s, during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. This type of building is called an Elizabethan mansion.

The house and its old castle walls are very important. They are listed as a Grade I building, which means they are of special historic interest. Today, the large grounds around St Fagans Castle are home to the St Fagans National Museum of History. This museum is a fantastic place to learn about the history of Wales.

The Castle's Long History

What was here before?

Long ago, in the 1200s, there was a medieval castle on this very spot. But by the year 1536, this old castle was mostly in ruins. It was no longer a grand building.

In 1563, the land was sold to a person named Dr John Gibbon. A new house was built on the site. It was either built by Dr Gibbon or by Nicholas Herbert, who bought the land in 1586. Some parts of the old medieval castle walls are still there today. They form a wall around the current house.

Who lived in the castle?

In 1616, Sir Edward Lewis bought the house. He was from a place called The Van in Caerphilly. The inside of the house was changed and updated over time.

After 1850, the house became a favourite summer home for the Windsor-Clive family. They were very important people and later became known as the Earls of Plymouth. Lady Harriet Clive, who became the 13th Baroness Windsor, owned the castle from 1833. She spent many years restoring and improving the house.

The Gardens and World War I

The beautiful terraced gardens you see today were created for the Windsor-Clives. This work started in 1865 and continued into the early 1900s.

During World War I, St Fagans Castle was used for a special purpose. It became a hospital for soldiers who were recovering from injuries. The large banqueting hall, where grand meals were once held, was turned into a ward with 40 beds for the soldiers.

A Gift to the Nation

In 1947, a very generous gift was made. Ivor Windsor-Clive, the 2nd Earl of Plymouth, gave the castle and its entire estate to the National Museum of Wales. This meant that everyone could visit and enjoy this historic place.

Today, the buildings in the castle grounds are part of the St Fagans National Museum of History. It's a place where you can explore Welsh history and culture.

Protecting the Castle

St Fagans Castle is officially protected as a Grade I listed building since 1977. This is the highest level of protection for historic buildings. It means the castle is very important and must be preserved.

Many other parts of the estate are also protected. For example, the old lead water cistern in the courtyard is listed as Grade II*. Many garden structures are also listed as Grade II. This shows how much care is taken to preserve all parts of this historic site.

Images for kids

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  Courtyard and lead cistern

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  North facade and gardens

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  Western wall

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  Part of west wall and old fortifications

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  Stable block

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  Gardens and medieval ponds