Upton Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Upton Castle |
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| Cosheston, Pembrokeshire, Wales | |
A view of Upton Castle in 1872, after enlargement and alterations
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| Site history | |
| Built | 13th century |
| Built by | Malefant family |
| In use | Private |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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Upton Castle is an old building from the 1200s in Wales. It's like a mix between a castle and a strong, fortified house. It also has its own small chapel. Even though it's privately owned, you can visit its beautiful gardens! The castle is located near a village called Cosheston in Pembrokeshire.
Contents
The Castle's Story
Upton Castle was built a very long time ago, in the 1200s. It sits near a small river called the Carew River. This land once belonged to important people known as the Earls of Pembroke.
Who Lived Here?
The first owners were the Malefaunt family. They came from Normandy and owned the castle until the 1500s. Then, the Bowen family took over. Later, in the late 1700s, John Tasker bought the house and its land.
In 1811, someone named Nicholas Carlisle said the building was "now in ruins." But between 1828 and 1860, the castle was greatly changed. New doors were added, and two big wings were built. In 1883, a fire broke out at the castle. Firefighters from the Royal Welch Fusiliers helped put it out. The fire mostly damaged wooden parts, walls, and a fireplace.
Gardens and Discoveries
The castle's gardens were greatly improved in the early 1900s. In 1976, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park started managing them and opened them to the public. However, the park later stopped funding the gardens.
Since 2007, new owners and volunteers have worked hard to restore the gardens. They are now open to visitors again. In 2012, a team of archaeologists from the TV show Time Team visited the castle. They found out that the chapel is even older than the castle itself!
What Does Upton Castle Look Like?
Upton Castle is a bit small to be called a "castle" in the usual sense. Many people describe it as a "fortified mansion" or strong house. However, its towers are very strong compared to other similar buildings.
The oldest part of the castle is on the north-east side. It has three strong towers with short walls between them. These walls have a plain top edge called a parapet. Inside, you can still see old features like two fireplaces, a spiral staircase, and a vaulted ceiling. The castle is a special historic building, listed as Grade II.
Upton Chapel
Right next to the castle is Upton Chapel, which is named after Saint Giles. This chapel was built in the 1100s or 1200s. It has a small main room (nave) and a smaller area for the altar (chancel).
Inside the chapel, you can see old memorials. These include statues of William Malefant, who died in 1362, wearing chain mail armor. There is also a statue of a female member of the Malefant family. The castle owner restored the inside of the chapel in 1978. It is an even more important historic building, listed as Grade I.
