Fonmon Castle

Fonmon Castle stands near the village of Fonmon in the Vale of Glamorgan. Built of local limestone and blue lias rubble, the main block rises two or three storeys and wears battlements along most of its length. The gardens around it are listed at Grade II for their historic interest. A single arched doorway in Sutton stone survives, though much of the exterior is covered in grey render. Two storeys higher, the south-east tower marks the skyline. The castle’s origins lie in the 12th century, yet it was remodelled in the 18th without becoming Gothicised. The St John family owned the castle from Norman times until 1656, when Colonel Philip Jones bought it. Robert Jones III added the library in the 1760s, with rococo plasterwork by Thomas Stocking that is called the best in Wales. A 6th-century cemetery and an Iron Age settlement have recently been found on the estate. The Joneses also built an 18th-century stable block with a medieval chimney reused from a nearby farm. A watchtower of mixed date stands further south, plastered in lime and given Grade II* listing. Inside, the drawing room and library run east–west, lit by Venetian and oriel windows. The ceiling carries arabesques, wreaths and a central Apollo head in a sunburst. Trophies of the chase adorn the spandrels of the segmental arches that divide the room. Outside, the castellated stable block faces the house, while the battlemented watchtower overlooks the grounds. The park now hosts archery and axe-throwing activities alongside nature trails.