Newcastle Castle (Bridgend)

Visit Date : July 2021

I visited another of the South Wales Castles, this time Newcastle. This should not be confused with the towns of Newcastle in the UK or the very famous northern city of Newcastle-Upton-Tyne.

This Newcastle now stands on Newcastle Hill overlooking the town of Bridgend and the river Ogmore that flows through the town.

The Norman castles throughout Wales were built hastily of wood with an earthen embankment but this castle like so many others was later reinforced by stone.

Above you can see the Southern wall incorporating the south tower that is the part of the castle that has survived the best. (In the background you can see St. Illtyds Church).

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The west tower would have stood here, sadly most of it has gone now but this would have looked onto the keep which is now completely destroyed and there is no visible remains of the keep.

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On the eastern side, the remains of domestic buildings can be seen.

Although the castle overlooks the strategic River Ogmore which flows down past Ogmore Castle it is more likely that this Newcastle was more of a great residence than a defensive stronghold.

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After the invasion and conquest of England in 1066 by the Normans, a buffer was created between England and Wales along what is known as the Marchers or Welsh Marchers. The leaders at the time were given authority and were encouraged to take land from any Welsh rulers.

The invasion of South Wales was led by Robert Fitz Hamo and this led to the destruction of the Welsh Kingdom of Morgannwg and the Lordship of Glamorgan was born.

According to legend, The lord was accompanied by a dozen knights who would be later known as the "Twelve Knights" and much of the early castle building was done by The Twelve Knights".

Later in the Castles history, Lord Roberts grandson William died leaving a daughter but no male heir and that led to the Welsh tribes led by "Morgan ap Carradog" (Morgan son of Carradog) to rise up. This disorder was soon quelled and King Henry was forced to take over the rule of Glamorgan in around 1183 and it is likely that the decorated stone gateway was built at this time.

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Another of the Castles of South Wales which sadly is in ruin but is now protected by Cadw

(Cadw is the historic environment service of the Welsh Government and part of the Tourism and Culture group. Cadw works to protect the historic buildings and structures, the landscapes and heritage sites of Wales, so that the public can visit them, enjoy them and understand their significance. )

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Visit Information: -

Google Reference: -
51.50892482554663, -3.583186606287954


Google search:-
Newcastle Castle Bridgend

What Three Words reference: -
///latter.sweat.brings

OS Details: -
OS Grid Ref : SS 90221 80079 :Altitude:159 ft

Additional information.

Parking is not easy here as you will need to park on the street. There is a small lay by (51.50899382089056, -3.5836980556567433) There is plenty of parking in the town if you do not mind a 15 - 20 minute walk up to the castle.

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Strumble Head Lighthouse

 

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Strumble Head Lighthouse

Strumble head lighthouse is just one of the many lighthouses that surrounds the United Kingdom

The lighthouse station was built for the greater safety of sea traffic between Ireland and Fishguard Harbour and is located on cliffs and a breakwater three miles to the east. The light also formed a link with South Bishop light, 18 miles to the south-west.

Visit Date July 2021

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This is one of my visits to the Pembrokshire Coast in South Wales.

The day started with bright and hot, however, as we got to this part of the coast the mist rolled in around the headland, the temperature dropped and the visibility got shorter illustrating why this lighthouse is needed here. When I left the lighthouse just a half a mile inland it was like another part of the country with bright hot summer sunshine.

Strumble Head Lighthouse stands on Ynys Meicel (St. Michael's Island), also known as Strumble Head, a rocky island at the northwest corner of Pencaer area, quite near the town of Fishguard, in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

This stretch of coast is very dangerous, and some 60 vessels are known to have been lost along it in the 19th Century alone.

The lighthouse replaced a light vessel previously moored in the south of Cardigan Bay.

The Lighthouse was reached by an iron bridge and is currently off-limits so you are unable to get to the lighthouse unless it is one of the open days or educational tours that happen infrequently.

A plaque in the lantern-room is inscribed with a verse from Psalm 127:

Except the Lord Build the house

They labour in vain that build it

Except the Lord keep the city

The Watchman waketh but in vain

The circular stone tower is 55 ft high and still contains the original lantern complete with Fresnel lens.

Illumination was updated from paraffin to electricity in 1949. The Lighthouse was fully electrified in 1965 when the optical system was also replaced by more compact equipment.

The Lighthouse was fully automated in 1980 but monitored with regular visits made by an attendant from the Trinity House Operations Control Centre at Harwich.

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Visit Information:-

Google Reference:-
52.029738410495085, -5.073602151740549

What Three Words reference:-
///stumpy.regulator.showering

OS Details:-
SM 89239 41270

Additional information.
Visiting is easy but the roads to the lighthouse are quite narrow.
Take the A40 from Haverfordwest to Fishguard , then left on Quay Road and follow signs for Strumble Head
There are two parking areas. The first you will come to on the road is (52.02963342008546, -5.069457876611645) there is rooom for perhaps a dozen cars, however there is also a small car park a little further on but it is not obvious (52.028993841497254, -5.07054577404669)

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Pennard Castle

Visit Date: July 2021

This week I took advantage of the great weather and went to the Gower coast in South Wales and visited the ruins of Pennard Castle.

Pennard Castle is a ruined castle on the Gower Peninsula near the village of Pennard in South Wales. Like many Norman castles built in the early 12th century, it started as an oval shaped timber ringwork and the walls were rebuilt in stone in the late 13th or early 14th century.

The only entrance was through the gatehouse on the east side, which consisted of an archway.

A small settlement grew up around the castle, and to its east, a solitary section of wall is all that is left of St. Mary's church which was the last element of the settlement to be abandoned in 1532. The Castle, village and church were all subsequently overwhelmed by sand.

The castle was listed in a survey in 1650 where it was described as being desolate, ruinous and surrounded by sand.

By the 1920's Penard Golf Club had acquired the site and a beautiful golf course had been developed with the castle ruins at the beachside of the course.

In 1923 funds were being raised to help preserve what was left of the castle but the cost was too high and only some remedial work being "patched" with concrete was carried out.

After the disaster of the remaining southern wall collapsing at the beginning of 1960 a public appeal launched by local newspapers and urgent masonry repairs were then carried out in 1963, paid for by a combination of the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works, the Gower Society, the golf club and the public appeal funds.

Thankfully now The ruins are protected under UK law as a grade II* listed building and a scheduled ancient monument.

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Visit Information:-
Google Reference
51.57650638581841, -4.102301944976939
Google Search reference: Penard Castle
What Three Words reference : ///existence.fluffed.verges


Additional information
Visiting is easy. Take the M4 motorway west Junc 42, Pass thought Swansea and take the Mumbles road . A 483 - A4067 and then B4436.
There is a national trust car park quite close (51.56692601910292, -4.087807245914044) and the charge is reasonable. There is also toilets and a café and restaurant near the car park. The castle can then be reached either by walking the road back to the golf course which is passed getting to the car park and crossing the course. Or if you are fitter from the beach which is down from the car park and across Pobbles bay to Three Cliffs Bay and then up to the castle.

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