Clan Rising
Oxwich Castle today

Wales · Partial ruin

Oxwich Castle

Castell Oxwich

Oxwich Castle (Castell Oxwich) is a 16th-century Tudor fortified manor house in courtyard form on a wooded headland overlooking Oxwich Bay on the Gower Peninsula, Wales. Built and enlarged by the Mansel family, the surviving ranges and towers surround a central courtyard and are now in the care of Cadw as a Grade I listed site.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1580

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1580

What Oxwich Castle looked like in its prime.

A courtyard-plan Tudor manor of rough grey-brown local stone with an outer Gateway leading into an open grassy courtyard. The east range contained a large Hall and the south range a kitchen; at their corner stands a tall, multi-storey south-east tower with a fractured, irregular roofline. A large rounded drum or buttressed tower sits in the foreground, and a squat square tower is visible to the north-west; window openings are small rectangular slots set in thick rubble walls. The site sits on a wooded headland above Oxwich Bay.

Its story

The story of Oxwich Castle.

A charter of 1306 granted in Swansea refers to tenants of 'the ancient knight's fees' at Oxwich, hinting at fortifications on the headland before the present castle. Oxwich was then owned by the de Penres family, in possession since the 1230s, and the original castle was the residence of the Norman de la Mare family during the 13th and 14th centuries.

The castle standing today is a castle in name only, a grand Tudor fortified manor house built in courtyard style by Sir Rice Mansel (died 1559), who also owned Old Beaupre Castle, over the ruins of the earlier stronghold. Its gateway is surmounted by a plaque bearing the arms of the Mansel family and of the Penrice and Scurlage families to which Sir Rhys was related.

By 1632 the castle was already being leased out by the Mansel family. The surviving ranges and towers around the central courtyard, on their wooded headland overlooking Oxwich Bay on the Gower Peninsula, are now in the care of Cadw as a Grade I listed site.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1580.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Oxwich Castle, including 2 interiors: great hall (east range) interior, south range, kitchen and service rooms. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach across the forecourt to the castleMain Gateway entranceGateway plaque with coats of armsCentral courtyardGreat Hall (east range) interiorSouth Range, kitchen and service roomsSouth-East Tower (six-storey) exteriorNorth-East older tower (ruined in the Tudor period)Dovecote to the north-east

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Recreate Oxwich Castle with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1580, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Oxwich Castle.

The families that held Oxwich Castle for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • de Penres

    The de Penres family held Oxwich from the 1230s.

  • de la Mare

    The Norman de la Mare family were resident at the original castle in the 13th and 14th centuries.

  • Mansel

    Sir Rice Mansel (d. 1559) built the Tudor manor house; the Mansels held it, leasing it out by 1632.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Oxwich Castle.

Liberty Stadium, WalesStadiumLiberty Stadium19 km away

Questions about Oxwich Castle

What is the history of Oxwich Castle?

Oxwich Castle was largely created in the 16th century as a grand Tudor fortified manor house in courtyard style. Sir Rice Mansel built it over the ruins of an earlier stronghold, and his son Sir Edward Mansel created a much grander structure between 1560 and 1580. By 1632, the Mansel family was leasing it out, and parts later collapsed in the eighteenth century.

What is inside Oxwich Castle?

Inside Oxwich Castle are the Great Hall in the east range, a kitchen in the South Range, and service rooms. The east range and South-East Tower provided extensive accommodation, while the courtyard formed the centre of the Tudor manor house. The surviving ranges and towers surround this central courtyard.

Who owns Oxwich Castle now?

Oxwich Castle is owned and operated by Cadw. It is also a Grade I listed building, a scheduled monument and a National Monument of Wales. The Mansel family formerly owned it, but the current ownership and operation are attributed to Cadw.

Why was Oxwich Castle built, and what was it used for?

Oxwich Castle was built as a grand Tudor fortified manor house in courtyard style, rather than primarily as a military fortress. Sir Rice Mansel built it over the earlier stronghold, and Sir Edward Mansel later enlarged it into a Great House capable of housing many guests and retainers. By 1632 it was being leased out, and it was later used as a farmhouse.

When was Oxwich Castle built?

Oxwich Castle belongs to the 16th century. Its Gateway and South Range were built between 1520 and 1538, while the Hall was built between 1559 and 1580. The site also contains the remains of an earlier stronghold, including a ruined north-east tower that may predate the Tudor building.

Which family or clan held Oxwich Castle?

The de Penres family held Oxwich from the 1230s. The Norman de la Mare family were resident at the original castle in the 13th and 14th centuries. Sir Rice Mansel built the Tudor manor house, and the Mansels held it while leasing it out by 1632.

Who built Oxwich Castle?

Oxwich Castle was built by Sir Rice Mansel as a Tudor fortified manor house over the ruins of an earlier stronghold. His son, Sir Edward Mansel, enlarged it between 1560 and 1580 into a much grander Great House. The building was created in courtyard style, with a Gateway, Hall, South Range and South-East Tower.

What did Oxwich Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Oxwich Castle was a courtyard-plan Tudor manor built of rough grey-brown local stone. An outer Gateway led into an open grassy courtyard, with a large Hall in the east range and a kitchen in the south range. A tall six-storey South-East Tower, rounded drum tower and squat north-west tower gave it an irregular fortified silhouette.

Is Oxwich Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Oxwich Castle is still standing, but it is a partial ruin. Its surviving ranges and towers surround the central courtyard, while parts of the building collapsed in the eighteenth century. Parts of the South Range were later rebuilt, and the building continued to be used as a farmhouse into the 20th century.

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