Manorbier Castle

Manorbier Castle

This Grade I listed castle stands on sandstone but is constructed of limestone masonry. The castle comprises an Inner Ward with a strong curtain wall and a less defended Outer Ward, separated by a dry moat at the Inner Ward entrance.

The Inner Ward contains at its south-west a mediaeval house comprising a hall and two later wings. The hall measures approximately 10.5 metres by 6.6 metres and features a large lateral fireplace on the north-east side with substantial corbels supporting the hood. North-west of the hall are a Buttery with a Solar above. Three vaulted spaces lie beneath the hall, two of which have been sealed and remain unused. An external staircase and an internal winding staircase provide access to the Solar, which contains a window of Norman style. The walls are of exceptional thickness, and the building might be regarded as a small keep until 13th-century additions reduced its military character.

The Chapel was added around 1260, aligned to true east without regard to adjacent structures. It is almost as large as the hall and highly ornamented, featuring a high pointed vault. Constructed of limestone with architectural dressings of sandstone, it retains traces of extensive painted decoration. Large windows with Early English angle-columns and stiff-leaf capitals light the interior. A single sedile is positioned south of the altar with a lancet window. One south-facing window was later converted to a fireplace with a large external chimney and a stack resembling two circular stacks fused together.

Between the Chapel and Hall stands a later passage with solars above. From this passage extends southward a spur reaching to the curtain wall. Outside the curtain wall stands a tower serving dual purposes—militarily providing flanking defence, domestically functioning as latrines.

The north-east side of the Inner Ward contains the entrance with gate-towers and two large corner towers. The ruinous Old Tower north-west of the present entrance is probably contemporary with the hall. The curtain wall and corner towers date to around 1230. The Round Tower is the most complete surviving feature, comprising four storeys with restored floors and battlements. Windows and door recesses are set within deep arch-headed alcoves, as the wall is approximately 1.5 metres thick. The parapet, standing on a corbel table, is crenellated.

The curtain walls were heightened on several occasions. The guardroom now serves as the castle ticket office and shop, containing a shallow first-floor vault and an upper storey.

The vaulted gatehouse displays evidence of portcullises and a drawbridge, though some details result from modern reconstruction attempts. A recess approximately 0.9 metres deep accommodates the raised drawbridge, with housings for the trunnions. Upper rooms feature window seats, and a lookout tower crowns the structure.

The barn at the south-east of the Inner Ward is post-mediaeval. Attached to it is a large hexagonal chimney of unknown purpose but apparently domestic in character, containing ovens. At the north-east end stands a house built around 1880 by J R Cobb, though vaulted cellars beneath it may be mediaeval.

The Outer Ward contains a large barn, seemingly later in date than Civil War earthworks at the Inner Ward entrance. This barn measures approximately 10 metres by 42 metres long, with slightly battered walls and the characteristic large opposed doorways of a threshing floor, one 4.5 metres wide and the other 3 metres wide. No roof structure survives; it was already roofless by the time of Buck's engraving in 1740.

Fragmentary defences of the Outer Ward remain, including a tower or bastion at the north corner.