This often overlooked, gem of a stately home near Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan has an incredible and little known history going back 800 years. And it is still inhabited to this day.
In this video, I talk about Fonmon Castle with Sir Brooke Boothby (BART).
It is his ancestral home. We also hear about his ancestors who can be traced back to the 9th Century and who have lived in Fonmon since the civil war. He reveals some amazing history covering topics as diverse as:
The Norman invasion of Morgannwg
The early days of the 12th Century castle
The St John, Seyes and Umfraville families
Cousins to Henry VIII live at Fonmon
The English Civil war
The most powerful man in Britain lives at Fonmon
Oliver and Richard Cromwell
The Restoration
John Wesley and the Methodists
‘Wild’ Robert Jones and Rococo architecture
The Viking origins of the Boothby family
The power brokers of pre-industrial Wales
First broadcast on Bro Radio in June 2022 as part of the ‘History on your doorstep’ series.