Clan Rising
Pencoed Castle today

Wales · Partial ruin

Pencoed Castle

Castell Pencoed

Pencoed Castle is a largely 16th-century Tudor manor-house complex in Llanmartin, south Wales, now surviving as a partly ruinous residence and gatehouse range. The site retains a substantial three-storey Tudor gatehouse with square turrets, an earlier medieval tower, ranges around a courtyard, and associated 16th–17th-century outbuildings and a dovecote. The ruins are on private land and are not open to the public.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1565

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1565

What Pencoed Castle looked like in its prime.

A rectangular three-storey Tudor gatehouse dominates the western front, built of coursed ashlar with a central rounded stone arch and flanking square turrets rising to a battlemented parapet; chamfered mullioned windows puncture the upper storeys. To the south-west stands an older, taller Old Red Sandstone tower. The main residential ranges enclose a courtyard to the east, with continuous stone outbuildings and a separate 16th-century dovecote; ivy and mature trees hug the stone walls.

Its story

The story of Pencoed Castle.

Pencoed was the site of a Norman castle, owned by Sir Richard de la More in 1270, and the manor of Llanmartin belonged to the Kemeys family around 1300. By about 1470 the estate was in the hands of the Morgans of Tredegar; Sir Thomas Morgan (c.1453–1510), thought likely to have fought at Bosworth in 1485, was probably the first of his family to settle there.

Parts of the surviving building were likely raised by the first Sir Thomas before 1510, with the main range and the grand three-storey Tudor gatehouse added by his grandson, another Sir Thomas, between 1542 and 1565, John Leland, writing about 1545, called Pencoed "a fair maner place". The main range is of ashlar similar to Raglan Castle, built around the same time.

In 1701 Montagu's descendants sold Pencoed to John Jeffreys MP, whose son sold it in 1749 to Admiral Thomas Mathews of Llandaff. Under later owners, Sir Mark Wood, Sir Robert Salusbury, Thomas Perry, it grew increasingly dilapidated and was let to farmers, only the rooms rebuilt for Lord Rhondda escaping the ruin of the interior. Sold again in September 2020 to an undisclosed owner, it remains a ruin, closed to the public.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1565.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Pencoed Castle, including 2 interiors: great hall and central three-storey porch (interior-facing), northern parlour wing and kitchens. 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 from farm lane and small bridgeGatehouse entrance under the central archFace of the gatehouse and turretsSouth-west medieval towerInterior of the central courtyardGreat Hall and central three-storey porch (interior-facing)Northern parlour wing and kitchens16th-century dovecote (exterior)Continuous range of stone barns and outbuildings

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Whose castle

Clans who held Pencoed Castle.

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

  • Morgan

    Held by the Morgans of Tredegar from about 1470; Sir Thomas Morgan (c.1453–1510) was probably the first of the family to settle at Pencoed.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Pencoed Castle.

Tintern Abbey, WalesAncient siteTintern Abbey17 km awayClifton Suspension Bridge, EnglandBridgeClifton Suspension Bridge23 km awayMemorial Stadium, EnglandStadiumMemorial Stadium23 km away

Questions about Pencoed Castle

What is the history of Pencoed Castle?

Pencoed Castle has medieval origins but is largely a 16th-century Tudor mansion. It was a Norman castle by 1270, and the estate passed to the Morgan family of Tredegar around 1470. The main range and grand gatehouse were added between 1542 and 1565. Later owners allowed the property to become increasingly dilapidated, despite restoration work in the early 20th century.

What is inside Pencoed Castle?

Inside Pencoed Castle are the ruined great hall, a central three-storey porch, a northern parlour wing that originally housed kitchens, and the remains of a south wing. The interior is largely unsurveyed and entirely ruined apart from rooms rebuilt for Lord Rhondda. The main residential block stands largely intact and partially restored around the courtyard.

Where is Pencoed Castle?

Pencoed Castle is near Llanmartin, south Wales, within the city of Newport. It stands at the end of a farm lane, about 0.5 miles east of Llanmartin village and 0.5 miles south-east of Llandevaud. Its administrative location is Langstone.

When was Pencoed Castle built?

Pencoed Castle was built in phases, chiefly during the 16th century. Parts of the surviving building were likely raised before 1510, while the main range and Tudor gatehouse were added between 1542 and 1565. The first-raised year is not recorded, and the prime year is 1565.

Which family or clan held Pencoed Castle?

The Morgans of Tredegar held Pencoed Castle from about 1470. Sir Thomas Morgan, who lived from about 1453 to 1510, was probably the first of his family to settle there. His family’s ownership followed the earlier medieval connections of Sir Richard de la More and the Kemeys family.

What did Pencoed Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Pencoed Castle had a rectangular three-storey Tudor gatehouse with square turrets and a battlemented parapet. A rounded stone arch formed the entrance, while chamfered mullioned windows pierced the upper storeys. An older, taller Old Red Sandstone tower stood to the south-west, and ashlar residential ranges enclosed the courtyard.

Is Pencoed Castle still standing or is it a ruin?

Pencoed Castle is still standing as a partly ruinous residence and gatehouse range. The Tudor gatehouse, an earlier medieval tower, courtyard ranges, outbuildings and dovecote survive, but parts are completely ruined. The main residential block is largely intact and partially restored, while the ruins remain derelict and abandoned.

Can you visit Pencoed Castle?

Pencoed Castle is not open to the public. The ruins stand on private land, and the property remained in ruins and closed to the public after its sale in September 2020.

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