Better Death Than Dishonour At Old Beaupre Castle!

Old Beaupre Castle is actually a ruined medieval fortified manor house rather than a castle, built circa 1300 and located in the community of Llanfair, outside Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.

It was owned by the Basset family who carried out intensive remodelling in the 13th century, adding other buildings to what was originally an L-shaped building to create a courtyard, with an impressive outer gatehouse, a three-storeyed Renaissance porch and buildings around the middle court. After the English Civil War, the Basset family fortunes went into decline it is thought because they supported King Charles I. Spoiler alert! He lost!

At the beginning of the 18th century, the Castle passed by inheritance to the Jones family who chose, in 1709, to sell it and live to the more modern New Beaupre. Oh, and in case you were wondering, ‘Better Death Than Dishonour’ is the motto of the Bassett family and can be found on a heraldic panel above the front door.

Brilliant Place To Be A Kid! Skenfrith Castle

Skenfrith Castle

The ruin of Skenfrith Castle, or Castell Ynysgynwraidd in Welsh, sits alongside the River Monnow in Monmouthshire in Wales on the border of Herefordshire in England. It began its existence as a wooden structure with earthworks after the Normans invaded England in 1066. It was intended to protect the route between Wales and Hereford.

At the end of the 12th century, the castle was rebuilt in stone. Skenfrith Castle, like its sisters White Castle and Grosmont Castle, is a Norman castle built shortly after 1066 to protect the route from Wales to Hereford.

We really enjoyed making this film of a splendid castle in a really lovely village. Everyone should grow up with a castle as a playground.

Carreg Cennen Castle – On A Rocky Outcrop With A Cave.

Castell Carreg Cennen, Welsh for Castle on the Rock above the River Cennen in the village of Trap near Llandeilo in Carmarthenshire, Wales. A freshwater spring rises in the cave deep below the castle, which would have been a useful supplement during dry weather.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a consensus on the date of the first castle on this site. Certainly, there was something built here in the 12th century but it is highly likely that there were structures built of wood that predate this. There is evidence of Roman and prehistoric occupation. There is also speculation of an iron age hill fort on this site.