Fonmon Castle

In the community of Rhoose. In the historic county of Glamorgan (Modern authority of Vale of Glamorgan, preserved county of South Glamorgan).

Built by the St. John family in the early C13 and has changed hands only once. Although most of the present castle dates from the post-medieval period, the rectangular keep was built c.1200 and is still the core of the castle. One of Fonmon's surviving towers may also be medieval in date. In later centuries the castle was enlarged by adding wings to the medieval keep.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is ST04746809

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

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's National Monument Record (Coflein) number is 300300
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 00502s; 00503s '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.castlewales.com/fonmon.html
    http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/enjoying/visit_the_vale/attractions/historic/castles/fonmon.aspx
• Books
  • Morgan, Gerald, 2008, Castles in Wales: A Handbook (Talybont: Y Lolfa Cyf.) p144-5
    Pettifer, Adrian, 2000, Welsh Castles, A Guide by Counties (Boydell Press) p96
    Reid, Alan, 1998, Castles of Wales (John Jones Publishing) p84
    Salter, Mike, 1991, The Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower (Malvern) p51
    Davis, Paul R., 1983, Castles of Glamorgan (Alun Books) p39
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p163-4
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p355
    Moore, P., 1978, 2edn [1edn 1976], Fonmon Castle South Glamorgan: a Residence Occupied since the Thirteenth Century (Glamorgan Archives Joint Committee, Cardiff)
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Hague, D.B., 1971, in Pugh, T.B. (ed), Glamorgan County History Vol3 The Middle Ages (Cardiff) p440
    Clark, G.T., 1884, Medieval military architecture in England (Wyman and Sons) Vol2 p49-50 [reprint of 1861 article]
    Lewis, Samual, 1849, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47877#s1
    Homfray, Jeston, 1828, The Castles of the Lordship of Glamorgan (Cardiff) p41 and plate
• Journal Articles
  • Thomas, Howard J., 1999, 'The manor and castle of Fonmon' Morgannwy Vol43
    Spurgeon, Jack, 1987, 'The Castles of Glamorgan' Chateau Gaillard Vol13 p209n, 222
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol116 p71-132
    Oswald, 1949, Country Life Vol105, p606-9, 670-3, 734-7
    Jones, 1882, Cardiff Naturalists' Society Vol14 p44-9
    Clark, G.T., 1861, 'Some Account of the Parish of Penmark' Archaeologia CambrensisVol16 p8-9
• 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) p24 http://www.archive.org/details/itineraryinwales00lelauoft