History in Structure

Entrance gateway with flanking wall at Dunraven House

A Grade II Listed Building in St Brides Major, Vale of Glamorgan

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Coordinates

Latitude: 51.4431 / 51°26'35"N

Longitude: -3.601 / 3°36'3"W

OS Eastings: 288826

OS Northings: 172779

OS Grid: SS888727

Mapcode National: GBR HC.N8Y7

Mapcode Global: VH5HQ.JZNM

Plus Code: 9C3RC9VX+6H

Entry Name: Entrance gateway with flanking wall at Dunraven House

Listing Date: 3 March 1999

Last Amended: 3 March 1999

Grade: II

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 21797

Building Class: Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces

Also known as: Dunraven House
Dunraven Castle (Wales) -- History
Dunraven Castle (Wales) -- Photographs

ID on this website: 300021797

Location: Located in a very prominent position at Dunraven Park, on the top edge of a hill which slopes down sharply to the N. The ruins of the house survive to the S and W.

County: Vale of Glamorgan

Community: St. Bride's Major (Saint-y-Brid)

Community: St. Bride's Major

Locality: Dunraven Park

Traditional County: Glamorgan

Tagged with: House Castle Fortified manor house

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Saint Brides Major

History

Dunraven Castle, an early C19 castellated gothic-style mansion, was situated on a cliff top overlooking the sea. The site has a long and almost continuous history, starting as an Iron Age hillfort. A Norman castle here was awarded to the de Londres family of Ogmore, and then to the Butlers. It was probably rebuilt in the C15 as a manor house, and recorded thus by Leland in the 1530s as a ‘the manor place’. It is shown in an engraving of c 1776 with features such as mullioned windows. At this time it is said to have included many of the older elements including a chapel and burial place. It passed to the Vaughans, then to the Wyndham family in the C16, and finally to the Earls of Dunraven.

The castle was rebuilt in 1802-6 by Thomas Wyndham of Clearwell Castle, Gloucestershire, as a hunting seat. The design was drawn up by Mrs Wyndham, though it appears to be based on the design for Clearwell Castle, by Roger Morris, 1728. It was remodelled in 1858 by Egbert Moxham, for Caroline Wyndham; the central tower was replaced by a conservatory and the N and S wings were raised. It was extended with a tower and wing on the seaward side by George Devey in 1886-8. The castle was demolished in 1962, having been used as a hotel, and only the footings survive.

The park was a deer park in the C17. The park walls, lodges, entrances and drives are probably contemporary with the rebuilding of the house in 1802-6. The sea walks in the park were designed by Lord Dunraven in 1840.

The entrance gateway is C19, and may be contemporary with the rebuilding of the house by the Wyndhams in 1802-6.

Exterior

Gatehouse and flanking wall of rendered rubble, much of the render having fallen away. Wide entrance with segmental arch and limestone dressings. Hoodmould to E side of arch, 2 orders of mouldings to W side. Diagonal buttress with offsets to NE angle. The flanking wall runs S from the SE angle of the gatehouse. Filleted saddleback coping to wall top.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as the only fully-standing remains of Dunraven House. The very prominent position makes the gateway an important landmark, imparting character to the park.
Group value with other listed items at Dunraven Park.

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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Other nearby listed buildings

  • II Garden Building
    The front wall of the building is incorporated into the S boundary of the walled gardens. The house was on top of the hill above (S) and its gateway is visible.
  • II Boundary and Dividing Walls to Walled Gardens
    Located in a sheltered position in the centre of Dunraven Park. The house stood on a hill which rises to the S. The former ice-house and banqueting hall is in the NE angle of the gardens.
  • II Former Ice Tower and Banqueting Hall
    Located in the NE angle of the walled gardens at Dunraven Park.
  • II Seamouth Lodge
    Located on the W side of Dunraven Park, at what is now the main entrance. On the N side of the gateway.
  • II Boundary Wall N of Seamouth Lodge
    Forming part of the W boundary of Dunraven Park. Located between the NW angle of Seamouth Lodge and the visitor centre (former kennels).
  • II Boundary Wall and Entrance Gates to S of Seamouth Lodge
    Forming the S part of the W boundary of Dunraven Park. Located between the SW angle of Seamouth Lodge and the shore-line, then curving round to the cliffs.
  • II Seamouth Cottage
    Located just outside the W boundary of the Park, in a sheltered position on the W side of a valley and the former road from Wick.
  • II Grand Lodge
    Located along the N boundary wall of Dunraven Park, and forming the N entrance. A trackway leads N uphill towards Durval Farm and the B4265 road.

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