Medieval Manor House Weobly Castle!
In the video, we explore Weobly Castle, a 14th-century manor house in Swansea, on the Gower Peninsular, in Wales overlooking the Llanrhidian Saltmarsh and the Loughor estuary.
IF YOU LIKE OUR FILMS YOU CAN SUPPORT US BY BECOMING A PATRON ON PATREON
BY CLICKING HERE
Where Are We?
Hello people of the internet!
We’ve come to see Weobley castle!
It’s in a beautiful location.
And the sun’s come out for it.
It has.
Potted History of Weobly Castle
Weobly castle is a 14th century fortified manor house built on the Gower Peninsula by the de la Bere family between 1304 and 1327. The de la Bere’s occupied it until the 15th century.
Location
As you can probably hear *crow crowing* As you can *crow crowing*
What’s your problem? As you can probably hear this one’s in the middle of a farm. A crow keeps interrupting me.
You can hear tractors and sheep and stuff.
A personal chamber?
This room I’d have said was somebody’s chambers, but the floor looks like it’s made of concrete and it looks like a later floor, because you can see just the rim of an archway poking through the top of the layer of flooring.
Waxing Lyrical
There’s something about spaces like this; you know doors, your windows and your fireplace, and all that sort of stuff.
It always reminds me of Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ things like that.
I see places like this and my mind goes back to that.
I just think this would be an ideal place to put on something like that- ok, it’s probably not, from a logistical point of view it’s a nightmare, but in the back of your mind there are these images of Shakespearean characters wandering around.
That, in part, I suppose is what makes these old houses kind of a fascinating thing to us, why we’re drawn back.
It’s not just the architecture’s interesting, or the fact that it’s still standing is interesting, or the location is interesting.
It’s that people’s lives happened here, and in some instances they were wonderful, exciting, exotic lives, and in some instances they were very sad and very impoverished.
But they were lives.
Evidence Of This Castle Being A House First
You can tell that this *crow noise* 14th-century manor house and that crow is really started to annoy me now.
You can tell that it was a residential place because of this window; would not be any use whatsoever in a fortified castle.
However, through the window you can see on the outside of the wall little slots where arrows put have been poked through so you could shoot people you didn’t like.
You know, just anybody. (Disbelieving laugh)
The Kitchen
Pretty convinced this must be the kitchen, because down here is what looks like a little bread oven.
And over here is a pretty substantial fireplace, and you can still see there are still some bits of the chimney intact.
There looks like there’s some fire damage down here as well.
There’s kind of like a little alcove maybe there was another fireplace here.
The Banquet Hall?
This is the banquet hall, because it’s got the space, it’s got the entrances, it’s got fireplaces, and it’s got multiple windows; which means you can have a look out and admire the view over the estuary.
Mock Miliatary
Having just been and to see the exhibition that they have I have discovered, I’m not sure that Ian knew this, but I have discovered that this is in fact ‘mock military’.
It was built in sympathy I suppose with their feudal lords, but the house itself was not built for feuding.
Let’s say if you moved into an old farmhouse and you made it look as rustic as possible; so you have exposed beams, and an old range, but you make it comfortable for living in.
So the range is in fact electric.
Which is I guess why this house is so unique, because it was built as a house to look a bit like a castle, instead of being built as a castle and then turned into a house.
Although, admittedly, there was an actual castle built on this site before the house came along, but that was earth and wood, and not stone, so not permanent.
Should You Visit? Ian’s Thoughts
As a castle to visit, is it a good one?
And the answer to that is a resounding yes.
There’s not a huge amount here. It’s not vast and sprawling like some of the places that we’ve been to.
But, there’s Lots here that’s fascinating.
I mean you really can see that this was a house that they just made sure people couldn’t get into to.
To me that’s more interesting than something that was built simply for a strategic and military purpose.
All of the various different things that one would have to make sure that you’re nice and comfortable it’s a house. But as a location as well the views from here are stunning.
Well worth a visit. Put it on your list of places to come.
Should You Visit? Jo’s Thoughts
If you are in the area for any other reason I would recommend you come and have a look, because, you know, philosophy in life is be nosy but be nice to us you’re doing it.
Well, be inquisitive; but, you know, nosey really.
I wouldn’t drive miles to see it, that I’m here and that I’m seeing it I’m quite happy about, but yeah what do you think Ian?
Conclusion
You see, she’s too picky you see.
No!
I think it’s grand.
I think it’s grand, but I wouldn’t if I’d driven miles and miles and miles to see this I’d probably would it be a bit like well okay…
Because if we’re filming we spend a bit more time in these places, so that’s more interesting, I think, than coming and having a look.
So bearing the one that we’ve spent over two hours in the car getting here.
Yes.
Would you prefer to have not spent?
No, I’m quite happy to have because we filmed it so it was more interesting from that aspect.
Yeah but…
If we were just to kind of drive two hours just to have a nose I don’t know.
Well, you’d have a nose at more than one; as we’re doing today.
Yeah. Yes, we do do our day of castles.
For us it’s worth it, we like it.
Yeah. I’m sure there are lots of other people have there for whom it would also be worth it.
Yes. I think so
And would also like it.
And if you can’t be bothered to drive you can just watch our films.
Yes, or if you’re not going to be around… That sounded a bit ominous. If you’re not going to be in the area at any time.
If you live on the other side of the planet.
Yeah, that kind of thing.
That might be a bit inconvenient.
Just a little bit. Until stuper fast rockets…
Stuper fast? Oooh that’s extra fast, it’s not just super fast, it’s stuper fast!
Stupefyingly fast!
High five for that.
Fin
I think that’s it for here.
I think that’s it for here as well.
I think we’ll probably have a little bit of a stroll down to the estuary because we’re like that.
See what’s there.
And then
*fly*
Press the subscribe button. And also click the little bel to give it some ears!
See you next time.
TTFN