Castell Coch

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Main gate of Castell Coch

Castell Coch is a castle in Wales. The classified as a cultural monument is a fine Grade I and protected as a Scheduled Monument complex is situated on a wooded hillside in the valley of the River Taff north of Tongwynlais, about 9 km north- west of Cardiff. The Welsh name translates as Red Castle.

History

Probably build the Norman conquerors towards the end of the 11th century, during the conquest of Gwent a moth at the site of the castle, which was however already given up a little later, when the area came as Senghenydd back under Welsh rule. According to legend, the Welsh prince Ifor Bach is said to have built a first castle, but this thesis as well as the assumption that Ifors descendant of Gruffudd ap Rhys was hat.Vermutlich started in 1250 with the construction of the castle, the castle of Gilbert de Clare, Lord of Glamorgan erected after he occupied in 1267 and Gruffudd ap Rhys Senghenydd had disempowered. The construction of the castle was probably in two short successive phases. First, the circular wall was built, which was reinforced by two round towers. In the second phase the ring wall was raised and reinforced, the castle was reinforced by the construction of the south-east tower and the gatehouse. After de Clare's death in 1295 the castle passed to his widow, and finally to the age of consent to his son Gilbert. Presumably, the castle was captured shortly after his death at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 by Welsh rebels by undermining the walls and destroyed, because unlike the other castles of the region Castell Coch is neither during the rebellion of Llywelyn Bren in 1316 still in the uprising of the barons 1321 Hugh le Despenser mentioned against. The castle was not rebuilt, and fell completely, so that in the 19th century, only the south-western tower and the city wall were obtained appreciably.

After 1850 and took place from 1870 to 1871 archaeological investigations of the ruins, was the 3rd Marquess of Bute in 1875 to build the castle in the historic style on the old foundations again. The castle was never intended as a residence, but should serve as a summer house and private retreat next to the main residence Cardiff Castle. The architect William Burges built the castle exterior in the style of a castle of the 13th century, even if the cone roofs and towers of different heights is more reminiscent of a Rhineland castle or a castle of the Loire Valley as a Welsh castle. The outer reconstruction was completed in 1879, but when Burges died in 1881, he had only worked out designs for the interior. Further expansion in a partly very magnificent Gothic Revival style withdrew under the direction of William Frame and JS Chapple still out until 1891. After its completion, however, the Client shall his castle have never visited more, and even after his death in 1900 the castle was used very little and irregularly from his family. 1950 gave the 5th Marquis of Bute, the castle the state, now it is managed by Cadw and can be visited.

Plant

The castle is situated on the steep eastern slope of the valley of the River Taff and controlled a major road from Cardiff from northerly mountains. From a possibly existing outer bailey no remains are preserved, the main castle has an almost circular plan and is separated from the next rising ground a deep dry moat. Despite its small size, the castle with its three round towers and the thick ring wall was very well-fortified. The medieval castle was built of red sandstone, which it owes its name. During the reconstruction in the 19th century, however, lighter limestone was used, it may be that a clear distinction between the remains of the medieval walls and the reconstruction of the 19th century. 1972, covered with red tiles roofs were replaced by gray - green slate.

Access to the castle is from the east over a bridge through the small gate house, which was strongly fortified with drawbridge and cast holes and lies between the south-eastern and north-eastern tower. The small courtyard is enclosed on the north and west of the city wall which has two rows of arrow loops and a covered wooden parapet. The three towers were built in the 19th century at different heights again and serve different purposes. The northeastern, Well Tower called the tower has a dungeon downstairs. The southeastern tower is the tallest of the three towers, and contains as keep the private rooms of the castle lord. The southwest tower contains the functional kitchen from the 19th century, is located between the two towers of the southern two-storey Palas. All towers and the Palas possess the courtyard wooden galleries, which also serve as access to the upper floors.

As the castle was only to serve as a summer home to plans by Burges, it contains only four living spaces. The hall on the ground floor of the palace today contains an exhibition on the history of the castle, on the upper floor is the dining room with a magnificent wooden vault. Located along the Keep adjoining living room and the bedroom is located above of Lady Bute are decorated with rich ornate vaulted ceilings, wall paintings, expensive furniture and an exaggerated features. Located above the gatehouse bedroom of Lord Bute, however, is aware simply decorated.

Surrounding the castle

In the immediate vicinity of the castle is a 17 -hectare Site of Special Scientific Interest with dense beech forest, red sandstone cliffs from the Devonian and lighter limestone rocks from the Carboniferous. In the 19th century the Marquis of Bute had let create below the castle a vineyard.