Manorbier Castle

Manorbier Castle stands on a coastal promontory in Pembrokeshire, five miles southwest of Tenby. Built by the de Barry family in the late 11th century, it is a Norman enclosure castle with curtain walls and both round and square towers. The main entrance is a tower gateway with a portcullis and heavy door, while a postern gate leads to the beach. Domestic ranges from the 1140s include kitchens, apartments and a Great Hall with large windows. A chapel built around 1260 features elaborate vaulting and medieval frescoes. The castle’s history includes only two minor attacks: a 1327 family dispute and a 1645 seizure during the English Civil War. Gerald of Wales, the 12th-century scholar, was born here in 1146 to William de Barri and the Welsh princess Nest ferch Rhys. After falling into decay, it was partially restored in 1880 by tenant J.R. Cobb. Today it remains privately owned but open to visitors along with its gardens, dovecote and mill. Visitors find a mix of medieval and later features. The Great Hall and chapel show the castle’s refined domestic side, while the tower gateway and postern gate reveal its military purpose. The surrounding gardens and dovecote add to the peaceful setting. Part of the castle also serves as a holiday cottage and wedding venue, blending history with modern use.