Manorbier Castle
Encyclopedia
Manorbier Castle is a Norman castle
located in the village of Manorbier
, five miles south-west of Tenby
, West Wales
.
as well as roof embrasure
s. There was no moat as the castle stands on a natural promontory facing the coast. A postern gate
provided access to the beach and boats.
There was an outer ward that was defended by earthworks but no barbican
. The main gateway to the inner ward is across a bridge and dry moat
. The south-east tower is round but the north-east one is angular. The domestic range of the castle had kitchens, apartments and a Great hall
that was built in the 1140s. Arrowslits were replaced by windows in the domestic range.
The Chapel, which was built around 1260, has elaborate vaulting and plaster-work. Some of the original medieval fresco
es can still be seen.
, a Norman knight
, at the end of the 11th century. Initially he constructed a Motte-and-bailey
on the site which had a wooden keep
defended by a palisade
and earthwork
s embankments. But it was Odo's son, William de Barri, who began work on the stone fortification in the early part of the 12th century.
In 1146 Gerald of Wales, the great twelfth century scholar known as Geraldus Cambrensis was born at the castle. As the fourth son of William de Barri, he was related on his mothers's side, to the legendary Welsh princess Nest verch Rhys
. Gerald wrote of his birthplace:
In the castle's history, it was only attacked twice; both were minor skirmishes. In 1327, Richard de Barri
assaulted Manorbier in a dispute over family succession. Then 300 years later during the English Civil War
, the castle was seized in 1645 by Parliamentarian forces
. It was then slighted to prevent further use by the Royalists.
Through the 17th and 18th centuries Manorbier was allowed to decay. However in 1880, the castle was partially restored by J.R.Cobb, a tenant who carried out repairs on the buildings and walls.
and mill.
by the BBC
in an adaption of The Chronicles of Narnia.
The 2003 film I Capture the Castle
was shot largely on location at the castle.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
located in the village of Manorbier
Manorbier
Manorbier is a village on the south coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales.The name means the 'Manor of Pyr'.-History:The Norman knight Odo de Barri was granted the lands of Manorbier, Penally and Begelly in gratitude for his military help in conquering Pembrokeshire after 1003. The first castle was motte...
, five miles south-west of Tenby
Tenby
Tenby is a walled seaside town in Pembrokeshire, South West Wales, lying on Carmarthen Bay.Notable features of Tenby include of sandy beaches; the 13th century medieval town walls, including the Five Arches barbican gatehouse ; 15th century St...
, West Wales
West Wales
West Wales is the western area of Wales.Some definitions of West Wales include only Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, an area which historically comprised the Welsh principality of Deheubarth., an area called "South West Wales" in the Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics....
.
Construction
Manorbier is a rectangular enclosure castle, curtain walls, and round and square towers. Its tower gateway was protected by a great door and portcullisPortcullis
A portcullis is a latticed grille made of wood, metal, fibreglass or a combination of the three. Portcullises fortified the entrances to many medieval castles, acting as a last line of defence during time of attack or siege...
as well as roof embrasure
Embrasure
In military architecture, an embrasure is the opening in a crenellation or battlement between the two raised solid portions or merlons, sometimes called a crenel or crenelle...
s. There was no moat as the castle stands on a natural promontory facing the coast. A postern gate
Postern
A postern is a secondary door or gate, particularly in a fortification such as a city wall or castle curtain wall. Posterns were often located in a concealed location, allowing the occupants to come and go inconspicuously. In the event of a siege, a postern could act as a sally port, allowing...
provided access to the beach and boats.
There was an outer ward that was defended by earthworks but no barbican
Barbican
A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from medieval Latin barbecana, signifying the "outer fortification of a city or castle," with cognates in the Romance languages A barbican, from...
. The main gateway to the inner ward is across a bridge and dry moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
. The south-east tower is round but the north-east one is angular. The domestic range of the castle had kitchens, apartments and a Great hall
Great hall
A great hall is the main room of a royal palace, nobleman's castle or a large manor house in the Middle Ages, and in the country houses of the 16th and early 17th centuries. At that time the word great simply meant big, and had not acquired its modern connotations of excellence...
that was built in the 1140s. Arrowslits were replaced by windows in the domestic range.
The Chapel, which was built around 1260, has elaborate vaulting and plaster-work. Some of the original medieval fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es can still be seen.
History
The castle was originally built on land granted to Odo de BarriDe Barry Family
The de Barry family is an ancient family of Cambro-Norman origins which once had extensive land holdings in Wales and County Cork, Ireland. The founder of the family was a knight who assited in the Norman Conquest of England and Wales during the 11th century...
, a Norman knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
, at the end of the 11th century. Initially he constructed a Motte-and-bailey
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
on the site which had a wooden keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
defended by a palisade
Palisade
A palisade is a steel or wooden fence or wall of variable height, usually used as a defensive structure.- Typical construction :Typical construction consisted of small or mid sized tree trunks aligned vertically, with no spacing in between. The trunks were sharpened or pointed at the top, and were...
and earthwork
Earthworks (engineering)
Earthworks are engineering works created through the moving or processing of quantities of soil or unformed rock.- Civil engineering use :Typical earthworks include roads, railway beds, causeways, dams, levees, canals, and berms...
s embankments. But it was Odo's son, William de Barri, who began work on the stone fortification in the early part of the 12th century.
In 1146 Gerald of Wales, the great twelfth century scholar known as Geraldus Cambrensis was born at the castle. As the fourth son of William de Barri, he was related on his mothers's side, to the legendary Welsh princess Nest verch Rhys
Nest verch Rhys
Nest ferch Rhys was a daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, last King of Deheubarth , by his wife, Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn of Powys. She is also known as "Nesta" or "Princess Nesta"....
. Gerald wrote of his birthplace:
In all the broad lands of Wales, Manorbier is the most pleasant place by far.
In the castle's history, it was only attacked twice; both were minor skirmishes. In 1327, Richard de Barri
De Barry Family
The de Barry family is an ancient family of Cambro-Norman origins which once had extensive land holdings in Wales and County Cork, Ireland. The founder of the family was a knight who assited in the Norman Conquest of England and Wales during the 11th century...
assaulted Manorbier in a dispute over family succession. Then 300 years later during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, the castle was seized in 1645 by Parliamentarian forces
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
. It was then slighted to prevent further use by the Royalists.
Through the 17th and 18th centuries Manorbier was allowed to decay. However in 1880, the castle was partially restored by J.R.Cobb, a tenant who carried out repairs on the buildings and walls.
Present day
The castle is open to the public. Along with the castle, there are also gardens, dovecoteDovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
and mill.
Media appearances
The castle was used as Cair ParavelCair Paravel
Cair Paravel is the fictional castle where the Kings and Queens of Narnia rule in The Chronicles of Narnia. It is the location of the four thrones of High King Peter the Magnificent, Queen Susan the Gentle, King Edmund the Just, and Queen Lucy The Valiant....
by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
in an adaption of The Chronicles of Narnia.
The 2003 film I Capture the Castle
I Capture the Castle (film)
I Capture The Castle is a 2003 film directed by Tim Fywell. It is based on the 1948 novel of the same title by Dodie Smith and was adapted to screenplay by Heidi Thomas...
was shot largely on location at the castle.