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 |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
St Fagans Castle, also known as Castell Sain Ffagan in Welsh, is a beautiful old mansion in St Fagans, near Cardiff, Wales. It was built a long time ago, in the late 1500s, during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. This special house and its old castle walls are protected as a Grade I listed building, meaning they are very important historically. Today, the castle grounds are home to the famous St Fagans National Museum of History, where you can learn all about Welsh life through the ages.
Contents
The Castle's Story
A much older castle stood here first, way back in the 1200s. By the year 1536, this medieval castle was mostly in ruins. Later, in 1563, the land was sold to a doctor named John Gibbon.
A new house, which is the one we see today, was built on the site. It was either built by Dr. Gibbon or by Nicholas Herbert, who bought the land in 1586. Some of the old castle walls from the 1200s are still there. They form a wall around the newer house.
New Owners and Changes
In 1616, Sir Edward Lewis bought the house. He wanted it to stay in his family for many years. The inside of the house has parts from his time. Other parts were changed after 1850.
The Windsor-Clive family took over the castle in 1833. Lady Harriet Clive, who later became Baroness Windsor, inherited the estate. She worked hard to restore and improve the castle for many years. The beautiful terraced gardens were created in 1865 and made even bigger in the early 1900s.
During World War I, the castle was used as a hospital. Soldiers who were recovering from injuries stayed there. The large banqueting hall had 40 beds for them.
Becoming a Museum
In 1947, a man named Ivor Windsor-Clive, who was the 2nd Earl of Plymouth, gave the castle and its land to the National Museum of Wales. This was a very generous gift.
In 1951, some furniture from another grand house, Tredegar House, was brought to St Fagans Castle. These pieces were chosen to be displayed in the castle's rooms, showing how they might have looked in the past.
Today, the buildings on the castle grounds are part of the St Fagans National Museum of History. It's a wonderful place to explore Welsh history and culture.
Why St Fagans Castle is Protected
St Fagans Castle has been officially recognized and protected since 1977. It has the highest protection, called Grade I. This means it is a very important historical building.
The castle's gardens and grounds are also protected as Grade I. This is because they are special historic parks and gardens in Wales. Even a lead water tank in the courtyard is protected as Grade II*. Many other garden buildings also have Grade II status.
Gallery
-
Courtyard and lead cistern
-
North facade and gardens
-
Western wall
-
Part of west wall and old fortifications
-
Stable block
-
Gardens and medieval ponds
