Picton Castle
Encyclopedia
Picton Castle is a medieval castle
near Haverfordwest
in Pembrokeshire
, Wales
. Originally built at the end of the 13th century by Sir John Wogan and is still inhabited by his descendants, the Philipps family (see Baron Milford
and Viscount St Davids
).
, but had became a separate holding, replacing Wiston Castle by the 13th century. Picton Castle began as a motte castle
and was reconstructed in stone by the Wogan family during the 13th century. In 1405, French troops supporting Owain Glyndwr
attached and held the Castle, and it was seized again during the English Civil War
in 1645 by Parliamentary forces.
The Picton Castle estate was acquired by the Phillips family when Sir Thomas ap Philip of Cilsant married Jane, daughter and heiress of Sir Henry Dwnn, of Picton in the 1490s. Sir John Philipps, who inherited the castle in the 15th century, remodelled the building and created a new entrance which remained until the 1820s when a new entrance was designed by Thomas Rowlands (who also designed Slebech Church).
The estate remained with the Phillips family until the death of Lord Milford
in 1823, when it was inherited by his cousin Richard Grant
, who assumed the surname Philipps and was created a Baronet in 1828 and Baron Milford
in 1847. His heir was his half-brother, the Reverend James Henry Alexander Philipps (formerly Gwyther), who assumed by royal licence the surname and arms of Philipps. On his death the estate passed to his son-in-law, Charles Edward Gregg Philipps, who was created a Baronet, of Picton, in 1887 (see Philipps Baronets
) then to Sir Richard Foley Foley-Philipps, cousin of Sir John Erasmus, and grandson of Charles Edward Gregg Philipps. The estate is now run by the Picton Castle Trust, and the present owner, Jeremy Philipps, lives in a lodge in the grounds.
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
near Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales and serves as the County's principal commercial and administrative centre. Haverfordwest is the most populous urban area in Pembrokeshire, with a population of 13,367 in 2001; though its community boundaries make it the second most populous...
in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, 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...
. Originally built at the end of the 13th century by Sir John Wogan and is still inhabited by his descendants, the Philipps family (see Baron Milford
Baron Milford
Baron Milford is a title that has been created three times, once in the Peerage of Ireland and twice in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. All three creations have been for members of the same family. The first creation came in the Peerage of Ireland in 1776 when Sir Richard Philipps, 7th Baronet,...
and Viscount St Davids
Viscount St Davids
Viscount St Davids, of Lydstep Haven in the County of Pembroke, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1918 for John Philipps, 1st Baron St Davids. The Philipps family descends from Sir John Philipps, who represented Pembrokeshire in the House of Commons...
).
History
The estates, gardens and parkland of Picton Castle was once part of the larger Manor of WistonWiston, Pembrokeshire
Wiston is a village and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales, in the United Kingdom. It was once a marcher borough. Owen, in 1603, described it as one of nine Pembrokeshire "boroughs in decay"...
, but had became a separate holding, replacing Wiston Castle by the 13th century. Picton Castle began as a motte castle
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
and was reconstructed in stone by the Wogan family during the 13th century. In 1405, French troops supporting Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
attached and held the Castle, and it was seized again during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
in 1645 by Parliamentary forces.
The Picton Castle estate was acquired by the Phillips family when Sir Thomas ap Philip of Cilsant married Jane, daughter and heiress of Sir Henry Dwnn, of Picton in the 1490s. Sir John Philipps, who inherited the castle in the 15th century, remodelled the building and created a new entrance which remained until the 1820s when a new entrance was designed by Thomas Rowlands (who also designed Slebech Church).
The estate remained with the Phillips family until the death of Lord Milford
Richard Philipps, 1st Baron Milford (first creation)
Richard Philipps, 1st Baron Milford , known as Sir Richard Philipps, Bt, from 1764 to 1776, was a Welsh landowner and Tory politician.-Background and education:...
in 1823, when it was inherited by his cousin Richard Grant
Richard Philipps, 1st Baron Milford (second creation)
Richard Bulkeley Philipps Philipps, 1st Baron Milford , known as Richard Grant until 1823 and as Sir Richard Philipps, Bt, from 1828 to 1847, was a British politician and landowner.-Background:...
, who assumed the surname Philipps and was created a Baronet in 1828 and Baron Milford
Baron Milford
Baron Milford is a title that has been created three times, once in the Peerage of Ireland and twice in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. All three creations have been for members of the same family. The first creation came in the Peerage of Ireland in 1776 when Sir Richard Philipps, 7th Baronet,...
in 1847. His heir was his half-brother, the Reverend James Henry Alexander Philipps (formerly Gwyther), who assumed by royal licence the surname and arms of Philipps. On his death the estate passed to his son-in-law, Charles Edward Gregg Philipps, who was created a Baronet, of Picton, in 1887 (see Philipps Baronets
Philipps Baronets
There have been four Baronetcies created for members of the Welsh Philipps family, one in the Baronetage of England and three in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom ....
) then to Sir Richard Foley Foley-Philipps, cousin of Sir John Erasmus, and grandson of Charles Edward Gregg Philipps. The estate is now run by the Picton Castle Trust, and the present owner, Jeremy Philipps, lives in a lodge in the grounds.