Wales · Still standing
Fonmon Castle
Fonmon Castle is a fortified medieval castle near the village of Fonmon in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It has 12th-century origins with major 18th-century remodelling that left a rendered, castellated house with a slightly taller south-east tower, a rococo-plastered library ceiling, and associated stable block and watchtower. The castle is a Grade I listed building set within registered historic gardens.
Its prime
1770
Today
Still standing
As it stood in 1770
The shape it held in its prime.
A compact, castellated stone manor of two and three storeys with a slightly taller southeast corner tower; uniform rendered grey walls with crenellated parapets and narrow vertical openings. The east curtain wall along a steep ravine is noticeably thick; roofs are mixed slate with lead gutters. Render conceals much original local limestone and blue lias rubble. Venetian sash windows and a timber oriel puncture the façade; an arched entrance porch opens onto a paved forecourt flanked by lawns and flowerbeds.
Its story
The story of Fonmon Castle.
Fonmon Castle's origins lie in the 12th century, and a popular myth — no more than that — holds it was built by Oliver St John of Fonmon, one of the Twelve Knights of Glamorgan who effected the Norman conquest of Glamorgan. The castle is believed to have remained under the ownership of just two families for almost its whole history: the St Johns from Norman times, and from 1656 the descendants of Colonel Philip Jones.
The St Johns were connected to the Tudor dynasty through Oliver St John's marriage to Margaret Beauchamp, grandmother of Henry VII. Despite supporting the Parliamentarians in the Civil War, the family fell into financial difficulties and had to sell their Glamorgan estates, the castle going to the Parliamentarian officer Colonel Philip Jones. His grandson Robert Jones I added a notable collection of paintings, including a family portrait by William Hogarth now in the National Museum in Cardiff.
Drastically remodelled in the 18th century but never Gothicized — a great architectural rarity — Fonmon's glory is the combined grand drawing room and library designed by Thomas Stocking, lit by two Venetian windows beneath a ceiling of arabesques and wreaths with an Apollo head in a sunburst at its centre. With the end of the Jones line the castle passed by marriage to Sir Seymour Boothby in 1917, and in 2019 Nigel Ford acquired it with some 350 acres of the remaining estate. It is a Grade I listed building.
Step inside
9 places to explore in 1770.
The record describes 9 distinct spots at Fonmon Castle — including 2 interiors: grand drawing room and library (interior), north wing over barrel‑vaulted semi‑basement (interior). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and walk through every one — more scenes means more photos, more angles and more rooms of the immersive experience.
Create History
Recreate Fonmon Castle with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1770 — a photoreal walk that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
Recreate Castle to Explore →Whose castle
Clans who held Fonmon Castle.
The families that held Fonmon Castle for a decade or more across its history — follow a name to its clan.
St John
Held by the St John family from Norman times until 1656.
Held by Colonel Philip Jones and his descendants, 1656–1917.
Boothby
Passed by marriage to Sir Seymour Boothby, one of the Boothby baronets, in 1917.
