Castle Map
Like many medieval castles, Oystermouth Castle was built and modified over the course of centuries. Originally starting as a fortified manor home in the 12th century, the castle expanded over time and eventually became the large fortress it is today, with multiple different structures used for different purposes. To learn more about the different sections of the castle depicted in this map, select the pictures below or click from the drop down menu under 'Virtual Tour'
Gatehouse
Alina's Chapel
Chapel Tower
Chapel Tower
Alina's Chapel
Chapel Tower
Alina's Chapel
Alina's Chapel
Alina's Chapel
South Keep
Northwest Range
Alina's Chapel
North Keep
Northwest Range
Northwest Range
Northwest Range
Northwest Range
Northwest Range
North Building
North Building
North Building
South Building
North Building
North Building
Curtain Walls
North Building
Curtain Walls
The Gatehouse
The Gatehouse is a two storey defensive structure rising above a vaulted passageway. On either side of the Gateway there are concave walls designed to accommodate Drum Towers. Although archaeological excavations in 2009 discovered extensive foundations beneath the west concave wall, there is no evidence for the construction of drum towers. Within the passageway there is provision for a Portcullis, a sliding gate that is raised and lowered by a winch in the Portcullis Chamber above. In the chamber is an aperture called a Murder Hole, which allowed defenders to drop missiles onto enemy soldiers below. Access to the Portcullis Chamber is by stone steps to the west of the passageway or by a circular staircase to the east.
The Chapel Tower
The rectangular Chapel Tower has square Turrets on three corners and a hollow buttress in the centre of both the north and south walls. On the ground floor there is a large fireplace with a chimney that rises through the north buttress. A circular staircase in the south west corner provides access to the first floor, which has a fireplace and garderobe (lavatory). The staircase continues upward to the chapel on the second floor.
Alina's Chapel
Alina's Chapel is attributed to Alina de Braose, daughter of William de Braose the Lord of Gower and wife of John Mowbray. Five decorated windows in the Gothic Style enhance the chapel; two windows in the north wall and two in the south, each having a single mullion with chamfered tracery dressings. The large east facing window has two chamfered mullions with fine cusped and interlacing tracery within the pointed arch. In a corner of the east wall there is an Aumbry where sacramental vessels were kept; immediately adjacent in the south wall is a Piscina for washing communion vessels. This stone basin is finely carved from Sutton Stone with a lobed trefoil feature in the pointed head. The projecting buttresses in the north and south walls, at the chapel level, contain deep recesses or niches; the arched niche in the north wall may have been a sacristy where vessels and vestments were stored. The niche in the south wall is currently assumed to be a 'Confessional' but could equally have been a family pew, and it is here that an outstanding feature of the chapel has been recognised. Within the arched recess the remains of 14th century frescoes have been identified. The paintings are polychromatic, using red, yellow and black pigment and depict angels set within canopies.
The South Keep
The Manor House, or South Keep as it is now known was built c. 1140 and is constructed of locally quarried limestone, except for the fireplace which is made of fire resistant Pennant Sandstone. It has been extensively altered with changes to floor levels, doorways and windows - see the blocked up partially submerged doorway to the right of the late 13" century porch. It is a three storey building including 'the hall' (solar), probably on the first floor and probably open to the roof, as there are no beam holes or corbels to suggest a second floor. The administration of justice, official events, assemblies, hearings, pleas and even festivities would all take place in the hall, along with the more mundane pastimes of eating and sleeping and day to day living.
The North Keep
By the early 13th century, as the various barons became more established and wealthy, the fashion developed for the Lord and his immediate family to live separately from the general castle population. This led to the addition of the North Keep. Doorways at ground floor and first floor levels of the South Keep give access to the North Keep. The fireplace on the ground floor, again made from Pennant Sandstone, is intact and built back-to-back with the fireplace in the South Keep sharing a common chimney. The fireplace with its fine hood and finely chamfered seats at the base of the windows, may have been scattered with cushions, indicating the grander style in which the lord and his lady would have lived. Also at ground level & set of steps descend to a barrel vaulted cellar, one of many in the castle, which has three narrow windows in the north wall. The first floor contained the 'Solar', the private quarters of the lord and his lady. The growing wealth and power of the lord meant that the castle became as much a symbol of power as a fortified structure. With more rooms and a larger area to maintain and defend, the castle population increased, hence the building of the Northwest Range in the mid 13th Century
The Northwest Range
This building, known as the Northwest Range, has three surviving floor levels; the highest level is accessed by a doorway in the North Keep and by a covered mural passageway which skirts around a spiral staircase on the west wall of the Central Block. Alterations to the floor levels, which have affected the fireplace and windows, are evident. The North Watch Tower which once stood in the north east corner of the building was probably accessed from this room.
The North Building
The North Building is a link between the North West Range and the South Building. Domestic apartments were constructed on three levels each with an individual garderobe (latrine), fireplace and window.
The South Building
The South Building contains two fireplaces, one of which may have served a kitchen. The large south facing window suggests that the building was a Banquet Hall. Beneath the Hall and Kitchen are two basement cellars with barrel vaulted ceilings each with a small west facing window.
Curtain Walls and Internal Buildings
The West Curtain Wall extends from the Northwest Range to the South Building and then on to the Gatehouse, the East Curtain Wall connects the Gatehouse to the Chapel Block, all were built in the late 13th century. The Internal Buildings were the latest and last additions to the castle. The Barracks were built against the east curtain wall, being the last of two buildings that occupied this position at different periods. The ground floor of this latest building was divided into two rooms, each with a round backed fireplace. The larger room had a door facing the courtyard and a second doorway on the south side facing the Gatehouse. A first floor fireplace is set within the wall immediately above that in the ground floor room. What may have been the kitchen (Pictured here) butts onto the south Curtain Wall and is served by two large fireplaces recessed into the curtain wall and one fireplace in the west gable. A doorway in the curtain wall leads to a Garderobe (latrine).