Weobley Castle

Weobley Castle stands on the Gower Peninsula in Swansea, a 14th-century fortified manor house overlooking the Llanrhidian saltmarshes and the Loughor estuary. Built largely between 1304 and 1327 by the de la Bere family, it consists of a gateway, hall, kitchen, chapel block and east range arranged around a courtyard. The buildings are made of rubble masonry with sandstone door and window features, now in a semi-ruinous state. The castle shows signs of wealth rather than military use, with a hall that has a recess for tapestry or panelling and a solar block containing a private chamber, latrine and cellar. Excavations in the chapel block uncovered fragments of a piscina, and the remains include garderobes and guest rooms. A cistern turret stored rainwater, and the south porch was added later in the 14th century. Weobley Castle was home to the de la Bere family until the 15th century, when it was attacked by Owain Glyndŵr’s forces. Sir Rhys ap Thomas later owned it before it passed to King Henry VIII and then to tenants until the 20th century. The last owner, Emily Talbot, gave the castle to the state in 1911, and it remains in the care of Cadw.