Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester and Lord of Glamorgan, built Morlais in 1270. Its remains of now run along the right hand side of the third fairway of the appropriately named Morlais Castle Golf Club, providing spectacular views of the border between Brecon and Glamorgan.
These ruins lie two miles north of Merthyr Tydfil on a limestone escarpment overlooking the Taf Fechan.
Possibly never completed, a print from 1741 shows the castle in spectacular ruin. Very little of even these ruins remain today, being pillaged by local builders and farmers over the years. A spectacular vaulted crypt does, however, exist, evidence of Gilbert de Clare's original impressive intentions.
Excavations in 1833 by Lady Charlotte Guest, revealed coins from the reign of Edward I. Morlais was also excavated by the amateur Victorian archaeologist, G.T. Clark. He took over ownership of the Dowlais Works from Lady Charlotte.
Lady Charlotte was quite an impressive lady, with a name alongside Lady Lanover, for helping to create awareness of Welsh Culture, but I can find very little documented about her involvement with Morlais.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/figures/lady_charlotte_guest.shtml
www.castlewales.com/morlais.html Morlais Castle - The Castles of Wales
http://www.morlaiscastlegolf.co.uk/
OS Map Grid Reference: SO04930957
Latitude 51.77730° Longitude -3.37948°
http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/Welshsites/432.html
Provides an interactive aerial view of the site.
These ruins lie two miles north of Merthyr Tydfil on a limestone escarpment overlooking the Taf Fechan.
Possibly never completed, a print from 1741 shows the castle in spectacular ruin. Very little of even these ruins remain today, being pillaged by local builders and farmers over the years. A spectacular vaulted crypt does, however, exist, evidence of Gilbert de Clare's original impressive intentions.
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| Morlais Castle Crypt |
Excavations in 1833 by Lady Charlotte Guest, revealed coins from the reign of Edward I. Morlais was also excavated by the amateur Victorian archaeologist, G.T. Clark. He took over ownership of the Dowlais Works from Lady Charlotte.
Lady Charlotte was quite an impressive lady, with a name alongside Lady Lanover, for helping to create awareness of Welsh Culture, but I can find very little documented about her involvement with Morlais.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/history/sites/themes/figures/lady_charlotte_guest.shtml
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| Plan of original castle both images from: http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/Images3_I-P/MorlaisCastle_Plan.jpg |
More information, prints and photographs can be seen on the links below:
www.castlewales.com/morlais.html Morlais Castle - The Castles of Wales
http://www.morlaiscastlegolf.co.uk/
OS Map Grid Reference: SO04930957
Latitude 51.77730° Longitude -3.37948°
http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/Welshsites/432.html
Provides an interactive aerial view of the site.
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