Castle House, Laugharne
Encyclopedia
Castle House in Laugharne, Carmarthenshire
, Wales
, is a Grade II*–listed Georgian
mansion. Described by Dylan Thomas
as “the best of houses in the best of places”, it is one of many buildings of note in the medieval township.
The house was built around 1730, although remodelled inside and out in the Regency period. It features a three-storey, five-bay facade, with the central three bays projecting slightly. The central doorway is surmounted by a pediment
; above it are tripartite windows, with the uppermost one in the Venetian
style. A broad cornice
on the facade conceals the slate roof. Several wings, lower than the main body of the house, project to the rear, one of which dates to the original 18th-century construction. The interiors are mainly of the Regency period and later but include the only example in Carmarthenshire of a Chinese Chippendale staircase.
There were formerly a number of outbuildings to the rear of the house, as can be seen in the first-edition Ordnance Survey
County Series map (Carmarthen, XLV.14, 1889), and the grounds of Laugharne Castle
were formerly landscaped to serve as the house's garden. Two of the surviving outbuildings have been converted to a bed and breakfast
and a restaurant. Although the castle is now in the guardianship of CADW
, its title is still with the house.
Until recently Castle House was in the ownership of the Starke family, who had held it since the early 19th century, although it is now the private residence of the daughter of the local artist David Petersen
. The house has long had artistic links, as Dylan Thomas
wrote Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog whilst staying at the house and Richard Hughes
wrote In Hazard whilst living there.
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. It is the 3rd largest in Wales. Its three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, is a Grade II*–listed Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
mansion. Described by Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
as “the best of houses in the best of places”, it is one of many buildings of note in the medieval township.
The house was built around 1730, although remodelled inside and out in the Regency period. It features a three-storey, five-bay facade, with the central three bays projecting slightly. The central doorway is surmounted by a pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
; above it are tripartite windows, with the uppermost one in the Venetian
Palladian architecture
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio . The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of...
style. A broad cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
on the facade conceals the slate roof. Several wings, lower than the main body of the house, project to the rear, one of which dates to the original 18th-century construction. The interiors are mainly of the Regency period and later but include the only example in Carmarthenshire of a Chinese Chippendale staircase.
There were formerly a number of outbuildings to the rear of the house, as can be seen in the first-edition Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
County Series map (Carmarthen, XLV.14, 1889), and the grounds of Laugharne Castle
Laugharne Castle
Laugharne Castle is a castle in the town of Laugharne in southern Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is located on the estuary of the River Tâf....
were formerly landscaped to serve as the house's garden. Two of the surviving outbuildings have been converted to a bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
and a restaurant. Although the castle is now in the guardianship of CADW
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
, its title is still with the house.
Until recently Castle House was in the ownership of the Starke family, who had held it since the early 19th century, although it is now the private residence of the daughter of the local artist David Petersen
David Petersen (sculptor)
David Petersen is a sculptor from Cardiff, living in St. Clears. He mainly uses metal for his sculpting but also paints and draws.His sons Toby and Gideon are also sculptors. The family won a competition to make the National Beacon for the millennium celebrations...
. The house has long had artistic links, as Dylan Thomas
Dylan Thomas
Dylan Marlais Thomas was a Welsh poet and writer, Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 11 January 2008. who wrote exclusively in English. In addition to poetry, he wrote short stories and scripts for film and radio, which he often performed himself...
wrote Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog whilst staying at the house and Richard Hughes
Richard Hughes (writer)
Richard Arthur Warren Hughes OBE was a British writer of poems, short stories, novels and plays.He was born in Weybridge, Surrey. His father was a civil servant Arthur Hughes, and his mother Louisa Grace Warren who had been brought up in Jamaica...
wrote In Hazard whilst living there.