Pencoed Castle

As it was a beautiful sunny day, and quiet workwise, I headed to the village of Llanmartin to get an aerial photograph of a castle I've walked past many times, and taken photo's, but an aerial just gets it all in one frame.

Pencoed Castle is a ruined Tudor mansion, largely dating from the 16th century, in the parish of Llanmartin, now within the city of Newport, south Wales. The Welsh name Pen-coed means “end of the wood”, and refers to the site’s location at the southwestern extremity of the Wentwoodforest. It was the site of a Norman castle, the property of medieval clergyman Sir Richard de la More in 1270. The tower at the south-west corner of the extant ruins dates from the late 13th century. The manor of Llanmartin was owned by the Kemeys family around 1300, but it is not clear whether Pencoed was a separate manor at that time.


In 1470, it was in the hands of The Morgan family of Tredegar (the same one's that owned Tredegar Park, Newport, now the grandest stately home in Wales). In 1701, it was sold outside the family to a succession of owners but became increasingly dilapidated and ruined, and was let out to farmers.


In 1914, it was sold to Lord Rhondda who intended to restore it but he died in 1918! His widow sold it a few years later after having a house built next door. In the 1950's it was used for filming an episode of Robin Hood.


In 1998, plans to turn it into a theme park were refused at planning, and in 2001 it was sold to businessman, Peter Morgan, who is slowly renovating and restoring it. Views can be had from it of the River Severn/Bristol Channel and the land for miles around is unspoiled.


The results of this weeks Wide Angle Wednesday challenge (tag 'widwed29') with the theme of 'yellow' is as follows:


36 entries gave me the hardest time choosing of the challenges I've overseen, to date. They are some really good entries! My choices in order are;


1.   Madwill            (yellow toy tractor excellently photographed)
2.    JanetHH         (A mono with part of bike in yellow)
3.   Incredibish       (rape field with dramatic sky)
4.   Isbi                 (all lemons on a stall (loved the idea)
5.   Pleach            (desktop - nice idea and done well)


Mention in dispatches:


a)  Lizellen             (embankment landscape)
b)  Hanulli              (incredible macro - wideangle? )
c)  Tlde                 (line of yellow buses!)


THANKS to everyone that took part. Sorry if I haven't mentioned you - not for the want of trying!)