Upton Castle

Upton Castle stands in Pembrokeshire, Wales, on ground once used for early Christian worship. A 13th-century fortified mansion, it has three strong towers and sections of curtain wall. The medieval parts include two fireplaces, a spiral stair and a vaulted ceiling. The chapel nearby is older, built in the 12th or 13th century. Both buildings are listed for their historic interest. The castle’s story begins with the Norman Malefant family who held it until the 15th century. In 1789 John Tasker bought the estate and may have laid out the walled garden. Later owners included Sir Henry Halford Vaughan, a historian at Oxford, and Stanley Neale, a Cardiff ship owner. Archaeologists from Channel 4’s Time Team confirmed the chapel predates the castle. Visitors walk through terraced gardens planted with trees and shrubs. The chapel contains effigies of the Malefant family in chain mail. Inside the mansion, medieval features remain visible. Views stretch across the surrounding countryside. The gardens are open to the public and cared for by owners and volunteers.