 Castles in Cardiff Castles in Wales Castles in England Castles in Scotland |
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Castell Coch | |
County |
Cardiff | |
How to get there |
6 miles North-West of Cardiff, off A470 | |
History
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The original
Castell Coch or 'Red Castle' was probably built in the 15th century and later surrounded
by a strong earthwork ditch. No other history is known about the castle and by the
late-19th century it was just an ivy covered ruin.
On the foundations of the early castle the 3rd Marquess of Bute commissioned William Burgess to fabricate a 13th century castle. Burgess had previously worked with the Marquess on Cardiff Castle. The castle was built with two round towers which rise out of buttressed square bases and a third tower that stands in a dry moat crossed by a wooden bridge. Burgess allowed personal taste to enter his design and added conical turrets to the towers instead of the traditional flat roof, parapet and rampart. As a result Castell Coch appears more like a French chateau than a Welsh castle. The towers and walls surround a central courtyard. The castle was protected against visitors by a drawbridge and portcullis. Being small the castle was not built as a permanent residence and was only intended for occasional use in the summer. The main rooms are arranged around the central courtyard and consist of a banqueting hall, drawing room, two bedrooms, servant's hall and kitchen. The rooms are elaborately decorated with a riot of colour and minute detail. The main theme seems to be taken from medieval illuminations. The octagonal, high vaulted room on the first and second floors is illustrated with Aesop's Fables. The whole effect is of breath-taking gaudiness that is undoubtedly Victorian. |
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