Hensol Castle

Hensol Castle (previously Hensol House) is a castellated mansion in the gothic architecture style Citation | last = CADW | title = Listed Buildings Database: building 13482 ] dating from the late 17th century or early 18th century. [ cite web | url = http://www.coflein.gov.uk/pls/portal/coflein.w_details?inumlink=6057480 | title = Hensol Castle, Hensol Park, Pendoylan. NPRN: 18963 | accessdate = 2008-07-18 | publisher = Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales ]

Location

It is located in the parish of Pendoylan (Welsh: Pendeulwyn) in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. It is a Grade 1 listed building.

Architecture

This substantially extended mansion is something of an archaeological puzzle. The south range, came first and is thought to be an unusually early example of the gothic revival in Britain, this may have been the work of the London architect Roger Morris [ Citation | last = CADW | periodical = Listed Buildings Schedule | series = ref. 72/D/7(2) ] . Around 1735, William Talbot, Member of Parliament and later Baron Talbot of Hensol, added the east and west wings, reportedly spending some £60,000 [ Citation | publication-date = January 1815 | periodical = The Gentleman's Magazine |page = p 77 ] . Samuel Richardson is said to have transformed the south front in the late 18th or early 19th century adding more castellations and corner turrets, but there is some doubt about this. In the 1840s Rowland Fothergill employed T.H. Wyatt & David Brandon to improve the property. They extended the house to the north, added a new courtyard and refashioned some of the gothic into perpendicular, changed the battlements and added the off-centre window bay to the south front. The interior is classical in style of various different dates. Citation | last = Newman | first = J. | publication-date = 1995 | title = The Buildings of Wales: Glamorgan | publisher = Penguin Books/University of Wales Press | pages = 500,501 ]

Occupants

The Hensol estate dates from at least 1419. cite web | url = http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=1&coll_id=20300&expand= | title = Hensol estate records 1429-1789 | accessdate = 2008-07-19 | work = Archives Network Wales | publisher = National Library of Wales ] It was owned by the Jenkins family in the seventeenth century, cite web | url = http://www.philological.bham.ac.uk/gamage/text3.html | title = Linsi-woolsie. Or two centuries of epigrammes | accessdate = 2008-07-18 | last = Gamage | first = William | date = 1613 | work = A hypertext edition by Glyn Pursglove | publisher = The University of Wales, Swansea | quote = To his old friend and Schoolefellow, Mr D. Jenkins,a worthy Barrister in the Lawes. ] and the house was said to have been built by David Jenkins' great-grandfather, David Tew. [ Citation | publication-date = 23 September1923 | periodical = The Times | publication-place = London | issue = 43455 ]

The famous judge David Jenkins (1582-1663), [ cite web | url = http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-JENK-DAV-1582.html?query=jenkins&field=content | title = JENKINS, DAVID (1582-1663) | accessdate = 2008-07-18 | last = Randall | first = Henry John | work = Welsh Biography Online | publisher = National Library of Wales ] the son of “Jenkin Richard of Hensol in the parish of Pendeulwyn” was born at Hensol. [ cite web | url = http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/14726?docPos=2 | title = Jenkins, David (1582–1663), royalist judge | accessdate = 2008-07-20 | last = Brooks | first = Christopher W | date = 2004 | work = Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | publisher = Oxford University Press ] He was described in old documents as “Counsellor at Law, and one of the judges of the Western Circuit in the reign of King Charles I”. Citation | last = Nicholas | first = T. | publication-date = 1874 | title = The History and Antiquities of Glamorgan and its Families | publication-place = London | publisher = Longines | pages = 128,129 ] Judge Jenkins was a man of great force of character and some eccentricity, named “Heart of Oak” and “Pillar of the Law”. Being a staunch royalist, he took an active part against the Parliamentarians, during the Civil War, condemning several to death for activities deemed treasonable. He was captured at either Hereford or Oxford in 1645 and sent to the Tower of London. He refused to kneel at the bar of the House of Commons and was fined £1,000 for his contempt. He was impeached for high treason, and when an act was passed for his trial, he met it with a declaration that he would “die with the Bible under one arm and Magna Carta under the other”. After the restoration of the monarchy under King Charles II, he was liberated in 1656 and returned to his estate in Glamorgan where he subsequently died and was buried at Cowbridge. His wife, Cecil was daughter of Sir Thomas Aubrey, of Llantrithyd.

The 1670 Hearth Tax return shows that the Hensol mansion of that time possessed 18 hearths. [ Citation | year = 1994 | editor-last = Parkinson | editor-first = Elizabeth | periodical = The Glamorgan Hearth Tax assessment of 1670 | series = (South Wales Record Society, 10) | volume = lxxxiii | pages = 213 | publication-place = Cardiff | publisher = South Wales Record Society ] Judge Jenkins’ son, David Jenkins was described as being “of Hensol” when he was High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1685. cite web | url = http://www.angelfire.com/ga/BobSanders/SHERIFFS.html | title = The Sheriffs of Glamorgan 1541-1900 | accessdate = 2008-07-19 ] This David Jenkins married Mary, daughter of Edward Pritchard of Llancaiach Fawr. They had a son, Richard and a daughter, Cecil who married Charles Mathew of Castell Mynach. They in turn had a daughter, Cecil.

An annual assembly of the bards was for many years held under the auspices of the Jenkins family in the adjoining parish of Ystrad Owen, until the death of Richard Jenkins who was a warm admirer of welsh poetry and music, and a good performer on the harp. cite web |url = http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=47876 | title = Penalley - Penmaen, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales | accessdate = 2008-07-19 | last = Lewis | first = Samuel | date = 1849 | work = British History Online | publisher = Institute of Historical Research | pages = 299-308 ]

The Jenkins male line became extinct with Richard Jenkins’ death in 1721 and the estate passed to Charles Talbot (1685-1737) [ cite web | url = http://wbo.llgc.org.uk/en/s-TALB-CHA-1685.html?query=charles+talbot&field=name | title = TALBOT, CHARLES (1685-1737) | accessdate = 2008-07-19 | last = Davies | first = William Llewelyn | date = 1849 | work = Welsh Biography Online | publisher = National Library of Wales ] though his marriage in 1708 or 1709 with the Jenkins heiress, Cecil (d 1720), daughter of Richard Jenkins’ sister, Cecil, and Charles Mathew of Castell Mynach. Citation | last = Lewis | first = D. | publication-date = 1975 | title = The History of Llantrisant | publication-place = Risca | publisher = The Starling Press | page = 101 ] The Talbot family had come into Glamorgan through the marriage of John Ivory Talbot of Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire, with Mary, daughter of Thomas Mansel, 1st Baron Mansel of Margam Abbey, Glamorgan. John Ivory Talbot’s daughter inherited Lacock Abbey. Her son, William Davenport Talbot, was the father of William Henry Fox Talbot of photographic fame. [ cite web | url = http://www.rleggat.com/photohistory/history/talbot.htm | title = TALBOT, William Henry Fox | accessdate = 2008-07-20 | last = Leggat | first = Robert | date = 2006 | work = A History of Photography ]

Charles Talbot served in Robert Walpole's government becoming Lord Chancellor in 1733 and taking the title Baron Talbot of Hensol. [ cite web | url = http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/26923?docPos=2 | title = Talbot, Charles, first Baron Talbot of Hensol (bap. 1685, d. 1737), lord chancellor | accessdate = 2008-07-19 | last = Macnair | first = M. | year = 2004 | work = Oxford Dictionary of National Biography | publisher = Oxford University Press ] Citation | last = Nicholas | first = T. | publication-date = 1874 | title = The History and Antiquities of Glamorgan and its Families | publication-place = London | publisher = Longines | page = 6] His son, William Talbot (1710-1782) was elected Member of Parliament for Glamorgan in 1734. His opponent, Bussy Mansel of Margam (later Lord Mansel) contested the result despite having initially received 823 votes against Talbot’s 678; but 247 were struck off from Mansel, and only 21 from Talbot. The sheriff, William Basset of Miskin, was accused of great partiality. Charles Talbot died in February 1736/37, William becoming the 2nd Baron Talbot. Bussy Mansel was then elected MP. William Talbot became Earl Talbot in 1761. [Citation | last =Nicholas | first =T. | publication-date =1874 | title =The History and Antiquities of Glamorgan and its Families | publication-place =London | publisher =Longines | page =149] In 1765 he leased some land near Merthyr Tydfil to Anthony Bacon [ cite web | url = http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-BACO-N00-1718.html | title = BACON family | accessdate = 2008-07-20 | last = Price | first = Watkin William | work = Welsh Biography Online | publisher = National Library of Wales ] and William Brownrigg at £100 p.a. for 99 years without royalty payments. [ Citation | last = Jones | first = Stephen K. | publication-date = 2005 | title = Brunel in South Wales: In Trevithick's Tracks | volume = 1 | publication-place = Stroud | publisher = Tempus | page = 32 | isbn = 0 7524 3236 2 ] This contained both coal and iron ore and was used to develop the Cyfarthfa Ironworks, that became the largest in the world and was later run by another resident of Hensol Castle, William Crawshay II. A large tablet inside the north wall of Pendoylan Parish Church commemorates a gift of £50 from Earl Talbot, the interest of which was to be given to the poor of Pendoylan. In 1770 it was matched by a further £50 given by Philip John, and in 1871, a row of six charity houses were built which stand as Church Row to this day.

The present house was either newly built, or was an extensive remodeling of the manor of the Jenkins family, in around 1735. In 1780, William Talbot was created Baron Dynevor with a special remainder in favour of his only child, a daughter, Cecil Rice, and “the heirs male of her body”. She had married George Rice of Newtown (later called Dynevor Castle). In 1782 William Talbot died, the Earldom became extinct, and the barony of Talbot of Hensol passed to his nephew, John Chetwynd Talbot (1749-1793), for whom the title Earl Talbot was revived. The title Baron Talbot of Hensol is still held by the Earl of Shrewsbury, the premier earl in England and Ireland.

In 1789 the estate was sold by the Talbot family to Samuel Richardson (1739-1824), a banker, [The Diaries of John Bird 1790-1803] who may have modified the south front of the house, and who in 1798 was Sherriff of Glamorgan. He is said to have been a pioneer in agriculture and made many improvements to the Hensol estate, including land drainage and introducing the threshing machine. [ cite web | url = http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/files/Living/Planning/Policy/County_Treasures/Pendoylan.pdf | title = Pendoylan: Llwyn Rhyddid | accessdate = 2008-07-20 | date = 2007 |work = Vale of Glamorgan County Treasures | publisher = Vale of Glamorgan Council ]

Samuel Richardson left in 1815, and Hensol was purchased by Benjamin Hall (1778-1817) [ cite web | url = http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-HALL-BEN-1778.html | title = HALL, BENJAMIN (1778-1817) | accessdate = 2008-07-20 | last = Williams | first = David | work = Welsh Biography Online | publisher = National Library of Wales ] , son of Dr Benjamin Hall (1742-1825) Chancellor of the diocese of Llandaff. cite web | url = http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/search2?coll_id=1276&inst_id=36&term= | title = Llanover estate records | accessdate = 2008-07-20 | work = Gwent Record Office | publisher = Archives Network Wales ] [ cite web | url = http://hall_wittmann_greer.tripod.com/1500.htm | title = The Hall Family Tree 1500 to 2000 | accessdate = 2008-07-20 | author = R.G. Hall | coauthors = D.A. Hall ] Benjamin Hall had married Charlotte Crawshay (1784-1839), second daughter of Richard Crawshay (1739-1810), ironmaster of Cyfarthfa [ cite web | url = http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item10/28989 | title = Crawshay Family of Cyfarthfa, Merthyr Tydfil | accessdate = 2008-07-20 | work = Gathering the Jewels: The website for Welsh cultural history | publisher = The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth ] , in 1801 and had been elected MP in 1806. Their first son was another Benjamin Hall (1802-1867) and he also became an MP, was made baronet in 1838 and in 1859 became Baron Lanover. [ cite web | url = http://web.ukonline.co.uk/gwenynen.gwent/benhall-III.htm | title = Benjamin Hall III (1802 - 1867) Baron Llanofer of Llanofer and Abercarn | accessdate = 2008-07-20 | last = Forder | first = Helen | date = 2004 | work = Lady Llanofer The Bee of Gwent ] In 1855, as Sir Benjamin Hall, Chief Commissioner of the Metropolitan Board of Works, he oversaw the later stages of the rebuilding of the Houses of Parliament, including the installation of the 13.8-tonne hour bell, “Big Ben”, in the clock tower. He was a tall man and many attribute its name to him, but this is questionable. [ cite web | url = http://www.whitechapelbellfoundry.co.uk/bigben.htm | title = THE STORY OF BIG BEN | accessdate = 2008-07-20 | publisher = Whitechapel Bell Foundry ]

Following the early death of the second Benjamin Hall in 1817, Hensol was put on the market in 1824 [Citation | publication-date =Friday July 9, 1824 | periodical =The Times | publication-place =London | issue =12386 | pages =p 2] and passed to his widow's Crawshay family, Hensol being bought by her nephew, the “Iron King” of Merthyr Tydfil William Crawshay II (1788-1867), who later built Cyfarthfa Castle. William Crawshay was High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1829.

Another ironmaster, Rowland Fothergill (1794-1871) of Abernant [ cite web | url = http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-FOTH-GIL-1758.html | title = FOTHERGILL family | accessdate = 2008-07-20 | last = Price | first = Watkin William | work = Welsh Biography Online | publisher = National Library of Wales ] bought Hensol in 1838, [Citation | last =Nicholas | first =T. | publication-date =1874 | title =The History and Antiquities of Glamorgan and its Families | publication-place =London | publisher =Longines | page =169] and soon employed T.H. Wyatt & David Brandon to remodel it. Despite being a county magistrate, he was convicted in 1844 of inflicting a serious injury with a pitchfork on a Mr. Brown, the superintendent of his farms. The plaintiff was awarded £500 damages. [Citation | publication-date =Friday May 17, 1844 | periodical =The Times | publication-place =London | issue =18612 | pages =p 7] Rowland Fothergill was High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1850. In 1853 he commissioned David Brandon to rebuild Pendoylan Parish Church.

On Rowland Fothergill's death the estate passed to his unmarried sister, Mary (1797-1887). She built and endowed a new school building for Pendoylan in his memory in 1873. On her death, Hensol passed to her sister Ann Tarleton-Fothergill (1802-1895), the estate passing to her daughter, Lady Price Fothergill (1839-1918), who had married Sir Rose Lambart Price 3rd Baronet (1837-1899) in 1877. Major Sir Rose Lambart Price travelled in America and published a book on his observations. [Citation | last =Lambart Price | first =Major Sir Rose bart. | publication-date =1877 | title =The two Americas: an account of sport and travel: With notes on men and manners in North and South America | publication-place =Philadelphia | publisher =J. B. Lippincott & Co.]

Their first son, Lieutenant Sir Rose Price (1878-1901) was killed in action at Villesdorf in the Anglo-Boer War. Their third son Lt. William Rose Price (1882-1907) also died in South Africa, whilst serving in the 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers. Lady Isabella Elizabeth Price Fothergill died of pneumonia following influenza on 30 November 1918. [Citation | publication-date =December 3, 1918 | periodical =The Times | publication-place =London | issue =41963 | pages =p 1] Their second son, Sir Francis Caradoc Rose Price (1880-1949) then inherited Hensol, but in 1923 he put it up for sale and was quoted in The Times newspaper as follows.

The old place requires a lot of money to maintain it. Income-tax and supertax have almost trebled since the war, and the cost of upkeep has considerably increased. These heavy burdens make careful consideration of one's position necessary, and there is a duty to younger children. If I died to-morrow, heavy death duties would make it impossible for them to live here. I can go on , but they could not. By the time one has paid all Imperial and local dues in the way of taxation there is not much left now, and for that reason I have decided to put the estate up for sale. [Citation | publication-date =August 22, 1923 | periodical =The Times | publication-place =London | issue =43426 | pages =p 5]

Eventually he sold the castle and estate of 1,082 acres to Glamorgan County Council for the sum of £36,500 for use as a County mental hospital. [Citation | publication-date =November 29, 1926 | periodical =The Times | publication-place =London | issue =44441| pages =p 18] Part of the estate was divided up into smallholdings. [Citation | last =Hopkins | first =T. J. | publication-date =1973 | contribution =Pendoylan | editor-last =Williams | editor-first =S. | title =Vale of Glamorgan Series: History on my doorstep | publication-place =Cowbridge | publisher =Brown & Sons | volume =One | pages =86]

Hensol hospital was opened in July 1930 [Citation | publication-date =July 14, 1930 | periodical =The Times | publication-place =London | issue =45564 | pages =p 9] as a “colony” for 100 men with learning disabilities ("mental defectives" in the terminology of the time). New blocks were built in the grounds in 1935 to accommodate up to 460 men, women and children and in 1937 it was visited by Sir Kingsley Wood, Minister of Health. At that time it housed 343 inmates and the Minister was reported a saying that he hoped to take back to his work in London fresh ideas which one could never obtain from minutes and records. [Citation | publication-date =September 8, 1937| periodical =The Times | publication-place =London | issue =47784 ] Further building and expansion took place with the advent of the National Health Service in 1948. [ [http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/search2?coll_id=76675&inst_id=33&term=hensol Hensol Hospital records. Glamorgan Record Office] ] Latterly in the 20th century, with the move towards community care for people with learning disabilities, the number of patients decreased, and in the 1980s the house became a conference centre.

The hospital closed in 2003 and the castle and grounds were bought by local businessman and supporter of sport in Wales, Gerald Leeke, chairman of the Leekes group of companies who had previously built the 145-bed Vale of Glamorgan Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort on adjacent land. Planning permission has been granted for the house to be converted into a five-star spa hotel.

Hensol Castle was used to film scenes set in 10 Downing Street for the BBC television "Doctor Who" episode "Aliens of London". [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/doctorwho_s1e4/pages/int_10downingstreet.shtml 10 Downing Street (interior) BBC Wales Dr Who] ]

Rumours abound that the castle is haunted. Workers of the Centre for Health Leadership Wales, who used the castle as their Head Quarters before it was sold in 2003, often reported feeling a "presence," especially in the attic storage area in the upper levels (that were eventually cordoned off due to Health and Safety issues). The said attic areas were often strewn with the bodies of dead birds that had found their way into the space but were unable to find their way out. This only served to support the rumours that a ghost lived in the attic.

References