Wales · Restored
Tretower Court
Llys Tre-tŵr
Tretower Court is a medieval fortified manor house in Tretower, Wales, that evolved alongside the adjacent Tretower Castle. The standing stone ranges, gatehouse and enclosed courtyard largely reflect 14th–15th century development under the Vaughan family, and the site is now cared for and open to the public.
First raised
1450
Its prime
1475
Today
Restored
As it stood in 1475
What Tretower Court looked like in its prime.
A long, two-storey coursed-stone manor of brown-grey masonry with a continuous, shallow-pitched stone-slate roof; the front elevation is punctuated by tall rectangular gabled chimney stacks rising above pronounced gabled bays and rows of tall mullioned windows with leaded diamond panes. The plan consists of paired north and west ranges forming an enclosed courtyard, a small projecting latrine tower on the north face, and a battlemented curtain wall with a stone gatehouse enclosing the yard, all sited against rolling grassy hills.
Its story
The story of Tretower Court.
Tretower Court, a medieval fortified manor house near Crickhowell, grew up alongside the adjacent Tretower Castle, which in early times was held by the Picard (Pychard) family, rewarded with extensive Herefordshire lands for assisting William the Conqueror. In 1404 the castle was listed as a defensible stronghold for the King and under Sir James Berkeley held off an attack; the same year Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick fought Owain Glyndŵr's army at nearby Mynydd Cwmdu, almost capturing Glyndŵr and taking his standard.
About 1450 the property was given to Sir Roger Vaughan by Sir William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, his half-brother, and the standing stone ranges, gatehouse and enclosed courtyard largely reflect development under the Vaughan family. The Court later passed to Edward Vaughan, who died without issue, the estate going to Margaret of Maes-y-Gwartha, wife of a Thomas Morgan, and then through several generations without improvement to fabric or fortunes.
The property was sold in 1783, the Vaughans taking up residence at another of their houses, and Tretower passed to a series of tenants, residential rooms were adapted as stores and barns, part even becoming a piggery. Now restored and open to the public, the Court hosts events and interpretive re-enactments in season.
Step inside
8 places to explore in 1475.
The record describes 8 distinct spots at Tretower Court, including 4 interiors: great hall in the west range, upper solar (private chamber) in the north range, private living room in the north range and more. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.
Build Your Own Castle
Recreate Tretower Court with AI to explore it.
The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1475, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.
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Clans who held Tretower Court.
The families that held Tretower Court for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.
Picard
In early times the castle was held by the Picard (Pychard) family, who gained extensive Herefordshire lands for assisting William the Conqueror.
Held by the Vaughans from about 1450, when Sir Roger Vaughan received the property from his half-brother Sir William Herbert, until the family sold it in 1783.
