Welsh Journals

V IEWED FROM the marsh road, Penrice Castle and its surrounding woodland is one of the best ornaments in the Gower landscape. It has stood there for almost two hundred y-ars. It was built by Thomas Mansel Talbot, Esquire, who (in the words of a contemporary) forced exotic elegance upon a bleak, unfrequented coast." Now it is reasonable to suppose that the tasteful care bestowed in landscape gardening around the Castle-" wood and lawn, lake and promenade -was bestowed also on its interior. Within the Castle walls, as well as outside them, there must have been decorative design, and the truth of this soon became common knowledge. Oldisworth, in his Guide to Swansea published in 1802, makes a special point of it. The rooms of the Castle, he wrote, are elegantly finished and replete with works of art many of which, brought from Italy by the present possessor, are of exquisite beauty and merit, and discern the perfect connoisseur in the selection." It is possible to know the details behind this collection, by referring to the Penrice records. Mr. Talbot, like many others, went on a Grand Tour. He was at Nice in November 1770, then went on to Milan and other notable places in Northern Italy, and almost certainly to Florence. On his return he began planning Penrice Castle, and it is possible that he made a second visit to Italy. For it was in the summer of the year 1775, on June 14th, that an Agreement was signed at Leghorn between Francis Jermy, Esq., and Captain Richard Ayton, for to bring Mr. Talbot's Goods to the Mumbles." Leghorn at that time was still an English factory of great importance for trade with the Levant Leghorn is an English form of its Italian name, Livorno. Leghorn was the port of Tuscany and all its illustrious cities-Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca. For centuries it exported the incomparable marbles and alabasters of Carrara. In this rich setting of the cities of Renaissance Italy, then, arrangements were made for satisfying Mr. Talbot's taste. Here is the text of the printed form signed by Mr. Jermy, acting as agent for Mr. Talbot, and Capt. Ayton Shipped by the grace of God in good order, and well-con- ditioned, by Francis Jermy in and upon the good Ship called the Eagle whereof is Master under God for this present voyage Capt. Richd. Ayton Commander and now riding anchor in this Port of Leghorn and by Gods grace bound for the Mumbles Point (In the Bay of Swansey Direct) the goods hereunder mentioned, marked, and numbered to be delivered in the like good order and well conditioned at the aforesaid Mumbles Point (the danger of the seas only excepted) unto Thomas Mansell Talbot Esq., or his assignes, he or they paying freight for the said goods Pounds one Hundred Twenty five Sterling with more two Guineas as a present to the Capn with primage and average Ceghorn to fienrice