Welsh Journals

PENRHOS CASTLE by FRANK OLDING Topography Penrhos Castle is situated approximately 2.5 kilometres south-east of the village of Llantilio Crossenny at an elevation of circa 100 metres above sea level on a north- west facing spur of the high ground overlooking the valley of the River Trothy to the north (see Fig. 1). The site is in a commanding position with extensive views to the north and west and dominates the Trothy Valley and two major medieval routes (Fig. 1). The underlying geology is Raglan Marl (Old Red Sandstone). In the past, the site has been referred to as Coed y Mount, Penros and Penrose. History (i) The manor of Penrhos Penrhos was one of the constituent manors and the eastern boundary of the great medieval Marcher lordship of Abergavenny founded by Hamelin de Ballon in the late eleventh century. From 1175 on, the lordship belonged to the de Braose family. When William de Braose V was hanged by Llywelyn Fawr for adultery with his wife, Joan, in 1230, the lordship passed to William de Cantilupe. William de Cantilupe died in September 1254. Until William's son, George, came of age in May 1273, the lordship was in the wardship of the Lord Edward (later Edward I). By October, 1273, George was also dead and the lordship belonged to the de Hastings family. In more recent times, the lordship came into the possession of the Nevill family and so to the present Marquis of Abergavenny who still owns Abergavenny Castle. The name Penrhos means the moor-end or top of the moor and Bradney, the county historian, speculates that 'this district continued a waste or moor for a considerable period after the surrounding country had been enclosed and cultivated' and goes on to suggest that it was enclosed in the early part of the seventeenth century. The site of the castle of Penrhos belonged to the Dukes of Beaufort and formed part of Penrhos Farm. The farm grew corn for the maintenance of Raglan Castle in the seventeenth century, though the existing building dates to the early part of the eighteenth century. The castle site was sold in 1854 and became part of the neighbouring farm known as the Grange.3 It is now, once more, part of Penrhos Farm, though let to a tenant. (ii) Penrhos Castle Even when they have not been overlooked altogether there has been a great deal of confusion regarding the documentary references to Penrhos. The inaccuracies which