Benton Castle

Benton Castle is a small fortification in the community of Burton, Pembrokeshire, Wales, now in use as a private house, in a wooded area overlooking the Cleddau river.

The castle was probably built in the 13th century, one of a number of castles protecting the boundaries of the ancient Hundred of Rhos. It consists of two round towers of differing heights flanking the main entrance, with a courtyard behind. It is claimed to be the smallest enclosure castle in Britain. Its origins are obscure, but in the 14th century it was held by Thomas de Roche, Lord of Llangwm.

A 1583 map of Pembrokeshire shows the castle on the west bank of the Eastern Cleddau (Clethy), and George Owen mentions it in 1603. The waterway was busy until recent times.

The castle is said to have been held and damaged in the Civil War, falling into ruin thereafter.

Richard Fenton, in his 1811 Historical Tour, says:The castle is built nearly on the same model as Roch, but with fewer decorations within. The main tower is almost circular, the upper part ending in a highly-finished octagon; from the existing fragments there seems to have been much building annexed to the tower on the north-east side.

Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of 1844 says:Among the most interesting objects in the vicinity are the remains of Burton (sic) castle, on the western shore of the haven, probably erected by some of the Normans, as a border fortress for the protection of the territory which they had acquired on this part of the coast. It does not appear to have been originally of very great extent; and the present ruins, which, from their situation on the margin of an estuary of Milford haven, have a truly picturesque appearance, consist principally of a lofty round tower, which rising above the thriving plantations in the vicinity, forms a conspicuous feature in the landscape.

In 1888, Edward Laws describes the castle as one of a chain protecting south Pembrokeshire, especially Milford Haven, from invasion in the 12th and 13th centuries:A mere round tower surrounded by an octagonal battlement probably of later date. This tower was originally divided into three stories, but as the floors were of wood they have disappeared. There seem to have been no fire-places nor are there any remains of stairs, so that the various chambers must have been approached by a ladder.

Text adapted from “Benton Castle” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Benton Castle ranks #5,341 of 8,134 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #97 of the 100 mapped in Wales. Founded c. 1250, it is older than 69% of the atlas's dated landmarks — one of 861 atlas entries founded in the 13th century. 10 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Swansea, 66 km away. See how Wales compares in the castle statistics.

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