Full Report for Listed Buildings
Summary Description of a Listed Buildings
Reference Number
13146
Building Number
Grade
II*
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
22/02/1963
Date of Amendment
16/09/1999
Name of Property
St Quintin's Castle (Llanblethian Castle)
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Vale of Glamorgan
Community
Cowbridge with Llanblethian
Town
Locality
Llanblethian
Easting
298910
Northing
174177
Street Side
W
Location
About 450m NE of Llanblethian church on spur of land above loop in River Thaw.
Description
Broad Class
Defence
Period
History
Although known as St Quintin's Castle, after the first Lords of Llanblethian, the St Quintin family were dispossessed in 1233 by Richard Siward, upon whose outlawry in 1245, the castle passed to Richard de Clare, Lord of Glamorgan. Only the ruinous keep of C12 can be associated with the St Quintin family. The gatehouse belongs with the newly fortified enclosure probably begun circa 1312 by Gilbert III de Clare, killed at Bannockburn in 1314. There are stylistic links with Caerphilly castle. From C15 onwards castle was used as a prison.
Exterior
Gatehouse (set forward from curtain wall) in local grey lias stone with dressings of buff Sutton stone. Central Gothic archway (provision for portcullis) flanked by towers with splayed corners. Cruciform arrow loops at ground floor level, most of dressed stone from windows and upper loops lost. Smaller arch in rear face of gatehouse. The remains of the curtain wall enclose an irregular quadrilateral about 52m by 50m; foundations of towers at angles N and S of gatehouse, and turret to NW. In centre of enclosure, remains of C12 keep.
Interior
Reason for designation
Listed for as substantial remains of medieval castle.
Scheduled Ancient Monument Cadw No Gm 94.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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