Manorbier Castle, today, is amazingly well preserved and consists of a 12th century gatehouse, a keep, two 13th century towers, and a vaulted chapel.

Manorbier Castle overlooking the Welsh southcoast began life as a fortified manor house in the 11th century upon land granted to Odo. Manorbier was nothing more than a wooden hall, surrounded by earthworks. It was Odo’s son who started to replace the old wooden structure with a new stone castle.

A stone tower, together with a hall, was built at the end of the 12th century and these were surrounded by stone curtain walls which incorporated stone towers and a gatehouse.

Manorbier Castle remained in the De Barri family for over 250 years and has changed little since their tenure. Manorbier changed ownership in the 14th century when it was sold by David De Barri, with ownership passing through many Royal hands, with very few members of Welsh royalty ever setting foot inside of Manorbier. By the closing decades of the 17th century most of the buildings became a collection ruins and the Crown eventually sold Manorbier Castle to a local family who remained the castles owners well into the 1900’s.

Manorbier Castle, today, is amazingly well preserved and consists of a 12th century gatehouse, a keep, two 13th century towers, and a vaulted chapel.

The gatehouse is a striking structure, topped by an observation tower which still shows part of the workings for the drawbridge and portcullis. The square keep is three storeys high with an entrance on the first floor with the great hall occupying the first floor. Manorbier Castle was considered by its medieval occupants to be a place of little comfort. It was quite a dark, damp and thoroughly uncomfortable place to live. The castles one and only grace was that it never had its defensive capabilities tested, even though on several occasions it saw itself being prepared for war. Through the fortunes of luck or from family connections, Manorbier was seemingly left totally untouched by the weapons of war.

Having lead what can be described as a relatively peaceful life and with the loving care bestowed upon it by a 19th century tenant, J R Cobb, Manorbier Castle has been able to retain much of its enchanting charm. Cobb was responsible for several restoration projects on castles and churches throughout Wales, and when he came to Manorbier in the 1880's he immediately undertook a massive rejuvenation programme.

J R Cobb was credited for building the modern house adjoining the old barns and today, Manorbiers present owners have continued in Cobb’s footsteps by carrying on with the restoration work as well as developing the castles gardens.

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