Picton Castle

Picton Castle stands in Pembrokeshire, Wales, near Haverfordwest. It is a medieval castle built at the end of the 13th century by a Flemish knight. The castle has an unusual construction and has been remodelled several times. It is a Grade I listed building and its gardens and park are designated at Grade II*. The castle is now owned and managed by the Picton Castle Trust, a registered charity. The castle’s history goes back to the 11th century when this part of Wales was part of the Welsh kingdom of Deheubarth. In the 12th century, Flemish settlers arrived in the region under the leadership of Wizo, who built Wiston Castle. One of Wizo’s followers was granted land at Picton, where a castle was built by the end of the 13th century. The Wogan family later came into possession of the castle through marriage. In the 14th century, Sir John Wogan reconstructed the castle in stone, giving it its unusual design with seven circular towers. Visitors to Picton Castle find a Grade I listed building with a rich history. The castle’s gardens cover over 40 acres and include the Walled Garden, the Jungle Garden, Peach House Woods, Peep-In Woods, Dew Pond, Fernery and Apothecary’s garden. There is a restaurant and shop, and self-catering accommodation is available in the gatehouse lodges. The castle is also home to the ‘Picton Renoir’, a painting featured in BBC’s Fake or Fortune?. Events, fairs and workshops are held periodically in the gardens.