East Orchard Castle, Fortified manor house ruins in St Athan, United Kingdom.
East Orchard Castle consists of the remains of a fortified manor house set on a low cliff beside the River Thaw. The complex included a main residential building with supporting structures such as a chapel and dovecote arranged around the central dwelling.
The Berkerolles family acquired the land following the conquest of Glamorgan in 1091 and constructed the manor between 1399 and 1413. This period of building represents the family's consolidation of their local authority through fortified architecture.
The manor served as a seat of local power and included a chapel alongside the residential areas, reflecting how medieval Welsh nobility organized both their daily lives and spiritual practices. The presence of a dovecote with numerous recesses shows the importance placed on keeping birds as a food source and status symbol.
Access is through the Rock Farm lands via a stone bridge crossing a river channel. Visitors should wear suitable footwear as the ground around the ruins can be uneven and muddy after rain.
The original hall contained a substantial fireplace and walls of considerable thickness, indicating both the wealth of its occupants and the defensive concerns of the era. This solid construction has partially survived the centuries and gives visitors a tangible sense of medieval building standards.
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