A visitor to Carew Castle should not leave the area without first looking in at Upton Castle. Just 21/2 miles away and situated on a narrow creek – quite separate from Carew – it is a smaller stronghold, very typical of the style built by minor lords of the time.
A visitor to Carew Castle should not leave the area without first looking in at Upton Castle. Just 21/2 miles away and situated on a narrow creek – quite separate from Carew – it is a smaller stronghold, very typical of the style built by minor lords of the time. Upton, home of the Malephaunts, knightly vassals of the Earls of Pembroke, has a particularly fine example of a 13th C gatehouse with two low but strong drum towers, with a battlement and machiolated front between them. The narrow pointed doorway arch would have had a portcullis and, no doubt, a drawbridge over a ditch which has now filled up. The walls to the right of the gatehouse have has 18th C windows cut into them and there is a modern building at the back. The particularly fine gatehouse itself makes a visit to Upton worthwhile.
In addition there is among the trees to the left of the castle, a chapel – built in the ‘Decorated’ style of 1250-1350 but in which more modern windows have been inserted. The interior holds two tombs bearing recumbent effigies of Malephaunts of the time of King Edward 3rd. There is also a strange candle-bracket projecting from the wall, formed by a clenched hand holding a cresset in which the light would have been placed.
The Malephaunts survived until Tudor times and were followed, by female decent, by the Bowens who seemed to change it quite a bit but always retained it as a residence. It has had many owners since their day.
Click here for Upton Castle website
Address: Upton Castle . Cosheston . Pembrokeshire . Wales . SA72 4SE
Phone: 01646 689996
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