9. The Keep Gatehouse

This small room in the Gatehouse formed part of the living quarters for the Lord and his household. The family also had accommodation in the ‘bailey’ – the castle grounds at the bottom of the Keep – but they moved in here for safety, whenever necessary.

It might look cold and uncomfortable now, but the gatehouse wasn’t always so bleak. In medieval times, there would have been rush-matting on the floors here, and a few pieces of furniture. The bare stone walls that we see now would have been covered with plaster, or even fine wooden panelling. And, of course, being so thick, they’d have provided good insulation. There might not have been any glass in the windows, but there were wooden shutters to keep out the draughts.

Look through the doorway on the left of the entrance.

On the wall you can see some remains of the original plaster – complete with historic graffiti.

Near to this – there’s a recess. Take a look inside…

This is a ‘garde-robe’, or toilet… and, as you can see, it opens directly onto the motte below!

In 1409, the Castle received an important visitor: Edward, Duke of York. He came to restore royal authority in Glamorgan, after a major uprising by the Welsh, under their leader, Owain Glyndwr.

The Castle had been badly damaged during the attack; but it could still accommodate large numbers of guests. Perhaps as many as 60 members of the Duke’s household stayed here for a month.

We know from the surviving household accounts that 195 separate meals – or ‘messes’ – were served here during the Duke’s visit. Most of these were likely to have been eaten in the Great Hall – a structure built inside the main ‘shell’ of the Keep.

Much of the food was shipped up river to Cardiff. It included ‘a barrel of white herrings brought from Bristol’, and plentiful supplies of butter, milk and eggs from local farms.