Images of Wales

Location

Tretower is situated about halfway between Brecon and Abergavenny. It is in the parish of Llanfihangel Cwmdu, at the bottom of the valley of Afon Rhiangoll near its confluence with the River Usk.

Above: An early 19th century engraving of Tretower Castle.

History

The upper valley of the Usk was seized by the Normans at the end of the 11th century AD. The Norman leader Bernard de Neufmarché (Bernard Newmarch) established himself at Brecon circa AD 1090, and settled his followers on the surrounding lands. Among them was a Picard whose land included Tretower and who built a fort at this strategically important site. The first Tretower Castle was an earth-and-timber structure, later replaced by stone (see above). The Picards remained at Tretower through seven generations.

Around the end of the 13th century the Picards moved into a new manor house, Tretower Court, built alongside the castle. The Picard dynasty ended when the male line died out and heiress Amicia Picard married Ralph Bluet of Raglan. In turn, their heiress daughter married James de Berkeley. On the death of their son Lord James Berkeley in 1417, Tretower was bought by Sir William ap Thomas, first husband of Gwladys, daughter of Sir David Gam.

Circa 1450, Sir William ap Thomas's son, Sir William Herbert (later the Earl of Pembroke), gave Tretower to his half brother Roger Vaughan and the estate remained in the ownership of the Vaughan family for thirteen generations until 1783 when it was sold (to one William Parry) and became a farm.

In the 19th century, Tretower Court gradually fell into a state of extreme neglect. The house was eventually bought by the Brecknock Society, and transferred to the Commissioner of Works in 1930 for preservation and repair. Tretower Court and Castle are now in the care of CADW: Welsh Historic Monuments and are open to the public.


Right: Tretower Court consists of a two-storey north range and west range, forming an L shape, and a south wall and east wall containing a gatehouse. The two ranges and two walls enclose a quadrangular courtyard.

Exterior of Tretower Court

Above: The west range of Tretower Court, viewed from the south west. The west range, built by Sir Roger Vaughan circa 1480, contained a great hall, private living room (solar), together with service space and a mess hall for the retainers who formed an essential part of the household of a large residence such as this.

		Above: The medieval garden to the south of Tretower Court is stocked with plants which were common in medieval times.
		Left: This attractive stone pedestal garden fountain dates from tudor times.

Above: Courtyard, with south wall (left), and west range entrance (right). The entrance, in 17th century classical style, leads to the great hall.

Above: Courtyard, with west range (left), north range (right), and balcony. The 14th century north range is the oldest part of Tretower Court. The wooden balcony or gallery was added by Sir Roger Vaughan in the 15th century. The elaborate stone window in the west range, known as an oriel, was an embellishment to the original solar by Sir Thomas Vaughan. Below: Oriel in west range, overlooking courtyard.

Above: Memorial stone to the Vaughan family, situated in an alcove in the south wall of the courtyard. The lighter areas are where restoration work has been carried out. The Vaughan family owned and occupied Tretower Court for about 330 years (from c. 1450 to c. 1780).