Yesterday was a bank holiday and we visited Weobley Castle. I have posted about this before, but that was the guide book version. There’s lots to explore and learn.
Weobley is actually a fortified manor house, and a lot of it still remains.
It perches on the edge of an escarpment above the North Gower salt marshes.
The local farmers raise sheep and cattle on the marshes, and joints of salt marsh lamb can be bought from the farmhouse where you pay to visit the castle. It is highly prized, in fact, there’s even a website for it.
There is the remains of a moat (dry now) and the gate is approached across a narrow strip of land. You can imagine fierce battles being fought along that strip, with attackers falling into the moat. Wearing full armour, they would have drowned. The less armoured foot soldiers would have fared better.
Inside are many rooms, including a dark basement, and a chapel.
A balcony has been constructed, which reminded me of a minstrel’s gallery in the hall.
In an upper room is a display of the history of the castle and of Gower. I learned that David de la Bere was steward to the de Braose lord of Gower, and purchased lands in the Weobley area in 1292. This links him with the William de Braose who was Alina’s father (see my book Alina, the White Lady of Oystermouth).
Here are two lovely pictures I copied from the exhibition: a reconstruction of Weobley Castle and an amazing photograph taken at sunset.
Despite the wind off the marshes, it was a lovely day. And the farmhouse/ticket shop sells Joe’s ice cream, a legend in this area. Weobley Castle is well worth a visit.