Tretower Court facts for kids
Tretower Court - the West range
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| Location | Tretower, Powys, Wales |
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| Type | Historic house museum |
| Owner | Cadw |
Tretower Court (Welsh: Llys Tre-tŵr) is an old, strong country house in Wales. It is found in the village of Tretower, close to Crickhowell in Powys. This special building is known as a fortified manor house. It was built a long time ago, in the Middle Ages.
Contents
A Special Place in History
Tretower Court grew from the nearby Tretower Castle. It is a very rare example of how a castle could change. It shows how a strong castle slowly became a grand, defended home. This building is also special because it survived many dangers. It was not destroyed in wars, like the English Civil War. It also was not completely rebuilt over time. This means we can still see much of its original history.
How Tretower Court Was Built
The first parts of Tretower Court were built around the early 1300s. At this time, the castle next door was still being used. The oldest part of the Court is the north side. Its strong walls, fireplaces, and windows show it was built around 1300. This early building had a large hall on the ground floor. This hall was open all the way up to its high roof. It also had a "solar," which was a private bedroom or living room. The hall was likely used as a local court. People would pay fines and taxes there. The west side of the building was also built in the 1300s.
The Time of Owain Glyndŵr
In the early 1400s, there was a big revolt in Wales. This was led by Owain Glyndŵr against King Henry IV. Tretower Court and the nearby castle were in danger. In 1404, Tretower Castle was listed as a strong place for the King. Under Sir James Berkeley, the castle successfully stopped an attack. It is thought this attack was aimed at the castle, so the Court was mostly safe.
Battles and Archers
In the same year, an English army fought Owain Glyndŵr's Welsh army. This battle happened nearby at Battle of Mynydd Cwmdu. The English almost caught Glyndŵr himself. They did capture his flag. The Welsh army then went down the River Usk valley. But they set a trap for the English who were chasing them. They fought again near Craig-y-Dorth hill. The English army was chased all the way to the walls of Monmouth town. Old records say that many English soldiers were killed there.
Less than ten years later, Tretower Court was a meeting point. From here, Welsh archers left to fight in France. They served King Henry V. These archers helped the English win the famous Battle of Agincourt.
The Vaughan Family's Changes
For a long time, the Picard family owned the castle. They got a lot of land for helping William the Conqueror. Around 1450, the property was given to Sir Roger Vaughan. He received it from Sir William Herbert. Sir Roger Vaughan became one of the richest commoners in Wales. He immediately started to improve Tretower Court. He wanted it to be a home fit for a wealthy man. The building we see today is largely thanks to his work.
Sir Roger updated the north side of the building. He added a floor above the hall. This made it a two-story building. The lower floor was likely used for storage. A kitchen was at its west end. He also added a new west side. This quickly doubled the living space. He built a brand new hall, solar, and upper rooms.
Sir Roger Vaughan's Life
Sir Roger Vaughan supported the Yorkist side in the Wars of the Roses. This was a series of wars in the mid-1400s. He fought in the Battle of Mortimer's Cross in 1461. After this battle, he led Owain Tudor to his execution. In 1465, he stopped a rebellion in Carmarthenshire. Soon after, he was made a knight. In 1471, he chased Jasper Tudor. But Tudor captured him instead. Sir Roger was then executed at Chepstow Castle.
Sir Roger Vaughan's son, Sir Thomas Vaughan, continued to improve the Court. In the late 1400s, he added a wall with battlements. He also added wall walks and a gatehouse. This enclosed the courtyard. Later, in 1630, Charles Vaughan made more changes. He added cellars, a new staircase, and another entrance. The Court then passed to his son, Edward Vaughan. After Edward died, the estate went to his sister, Margaret. The Court stayed in the family for a few more generations. However, no more big changes were made to the building.
Decline and Later Years
In 1783, the Vaughan family sold the property. They moved to another of their homes. Tretower Court then had many different tenants. Over time, some rooms that were once homes became storage areas. They were even used for animals, with part of the building becoming a pigsty. The building was not kept up as well as before. By the early 1900s, it was in danger of falling down. The roof was especially weak. Any repairs that had been done were not well planned. They hid the true age and value of the old building.
Saving Tretower Court
In 1929, a group called the Brecknock Society asked the government to buy the building. In the 1930s, Tretower Court was saved and repaired for the nation. Today, it is looked after by Cadw. Cadw is the Welsh government's historic environment service.
The Court is now open for people to visit. You can take an audio tour to learn about its history. Special events and historical reenactments are often held there. Parts of the building can even be used for wedding ceremonies. In 2007, Tretower Court was filmed for an episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures called Eye of the Gorgon.
See also
- List of gardens in Wales
