Castell Coch

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Rubeum Castrum

In the community of Tongwynlais. In the historic county of Glamorgan (Modern authority of Cardiff, preserved county of South Glamorgan).

Late C19 fairytale-style castle built on medieval remains, designed for the third marquess of Bute by William Burges. Lavishly decorated and furnished in the Victorian Gothic style; a romantic vision of the Middle Ages. The original castle was a new build by Gilbert de Clare sometime between 1268 and 1289.
Castell Coch, located on a prominent wooded hillside overlooking the Taff Valley and the northern part of Cardiff, is a remarkable blend of solid medieval masonry and High Victorian Gothic fantasy. The original defensive structure of earth and timber was built in the late eleventh or early twelfth century during the conflict between the Anglo-Normans and native Welsh for the control of the rich lands of south-east Wales. By the middle of the thirteenth century the castle was in the hands of the powerful Clare family and by the end of that century the three great towers - the Well Tower, Kitchen Tower and Keep Tower- had been constructed. Severely damaged during Welsh rebellions of the early fourteenth century, the castle fell out of use and by the 1530s John Leland noted that the site had become a ruin. (Coflein)

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law. This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is ST13068263

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's National Monument Record (Coflein) number is 93112
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 00595s 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Web site links
  • http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=6&PlaceID=48
    http://www.castlewales.com/coch.html
    http://www.castlegate.net/castles/coch/index.htm
    http://www.greatcastlesofwales.co.uk/coch.htm
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_wales/171/castellcoch.htm
    http://www.thislandwales.com/castellcoch.htm
• Books
  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p139-41
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p91-2
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p49-50
    Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p46
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p162
    Brown, R.L., 1983, ‘Castell Coch before Burges and Bute’, in Brown, R.L. (ed), More about Ton (Tongwynlais: Tair Eglwys Press) p1–15
    Davis, Paul R., 1983, Castles of Glamorgan (Alun Books) p20
    Hague, D.B., 1971, in Pugh, T.B. (ed), Glamorgan County History Vol3 The Middle Ages (Cardiff) p429-30 plates XIX, XXX
    Randall, Henry John, 1961, The Vale of Glamorgan, Studies in Landscape and History (Newport: R.H.Johns Ltd) p77
    Clark, G.T., 1884, Medieval military architecture in England (Wyman and Sons) Vol1 358-64
    Drane, c.1859, Castell Coch, a Gossiping Companion i-ii and plates [King writes 'rest worthless']
    Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47823#s11
    King, Edward, 1799-1805, Munimenta antiqua or Observations on ancient castles (W.Bulmer and Co) Vol3 p126-30
• Journal Articles
  • Spurgeon, Jack, 1987, 'The Castles of Glamorgan' Chateau Gaillard Vol13 p215
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol112 p77-124
    Girouard, 1962, Country Life, Vol131 p1092-5, 1174-7
    Renn, D.F., 1961, 'The round keeps of the Brecon region' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol110 p140
    Howell, 1951, Architectural Review Vol109 p39-46
    1913, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol68 p128-31 and plates
    1901, Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol56 p64
    Clark, G.T., 1850, 'Castell Coch, Glamorgan - Topographical Notes' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol5 p241-50
• Guidebooks
  • McLees, David, 1998, Castell Coch (CADW)
    Rousham, S., 1987 (Revised edn), Castell Coch (CADW)
    Rousham, S., 1985, Castell Coch (CADW)
    Floud, P., 1954, Castell Coch, Glamorgan (HMSO)
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1906, Leland's Itinerary in Wales (Bell and Sons; London) p18 http://www.archive.org/details/itineraryinwales00lelauoft