Caldicot Castle — Attraction in Caldicot

Caldicot Castle (Welsh: Castell Cil-y-coed) is an extensive stone medieval castle in the town of Caldicot, Monmouthshire, in southeast Wales, built near the site of Harold Godwinson's former Saxon castle by the Norman earls of Hereford from about 1100. The castle became a Grade I listed building on 10 June 1953.

In 1399 Henry Bolingbroke seized the throne from Richard, and although Mary de Bohun did not live to see her husband crowned Henry IV, her son, born at Monmouth Castle, would be one of the country's great heroes, Henry V, victor of Agincourt.

The division of the de Bohuns estates was revised after the death of Alianore and Mary de Bohun's mother Joan, who had outlived both of her daughters by some twenty years. Alianore's eldest daughter and heir, Anne, lost Caldicot to Mary's son King Henry V, and so Caldicot became part of the great Duchy of Lancaster. Held by Henry's widow, Katherine of Valois, Caldicot was later granted into the stewardship of the Herbert family for much of the fifteenth century, and then leased in the sixteenth century to their successors the Somersets with their power base at Raglan.

Caldicot Castle was evidently neglected, fell into ruin and became little more than a farmyard. The castle was sold to Charles Lewis of St Pierre in 1857. In 1885 he sold it to Joseph Richard Cobb, who began the restoration of the castle as his family home.

From 1885 to 1964, the Cobb family owned the castle. Joseph Cobb's family remained at the castle after his death and it was his son Geoffrey Wheatly Cobb, and in particular his daughter-in-law Anna, who continued the work of restoration. In the early twentieth century, many rooms were decorated with memorabilia from Nelson's first flagship, HMS Foudroyant which was owned by G. Wheatly Cobb at the end of its life. G. Wheatly Cobb died in 1931 and, after Anna's death in 1943, the castle passed to Joseph's grandson, Geoffrey Cobb who created furnished apartments for renting in three of the towers and also in parts of the gatehouse.

In 1964, Chepstow Rural District Council bought the castle from the Cobb family for £12,000, at a time when the increasing availability of council housing had supplanted the local need for the castle apartments. The building, including a small museum, was opened to the public in 1965. After 1967, medieval-style banquets...

This site isn't just a castle. The grounds around the castle itself has parkland with trails for walking, there are a couple of playing fields which are used for things like football (a children's football match was on when we visited today), a playground for younger children and a toilet block.

There is overspill car parking in an adjacent field which was in use today. Car parking is free but be aware the entrance road is very narrow. On busy days there is a second exit opened but it you leave via the same road as the entrance you may have to wait for cars coming in along the single track road. The speed bumps are effective but can feel harsh if you are in a car that is very low or has poor suspension.

The castle itself was free to enter today - if there are events happening there is sometimes an entry fee. There is a covered picnic area in the middle of the ward and you can buy drinks, snacks, ice creams and a small selection of gifts from the takeaway cafe. (Gift prices are pretty reasonable - small soft toys were £3 each when we visited.) Be aware that the cafe/gift shop only accepts payment by card at the moment.

Overall, a good place to spend a morning or afternoon, probably best for families with under 10s, but still a nice relaxing place for older...

Visited for Stranglers gig June 34. Great place for a relatively small event (central area big... but not as massive as in huge stadiums). Place mostly full of old farts wearing Strangler promo gear and serviced by obscenely priced food and drink. Pretty basic search on entry. Load of 'rules and regs' emailed out with tickets. Allowed unopened 500ml bottle of water and an A4 sized bag (wow). This said, search was cursory and could have easily concealed booze or drugs to take in. It was pretty evident some had on wandering around inside. But review not about gig but Castle. I think it's Norman origin set in big, well-kept grounds (Wikipedia would no doubt enlighten). The place is evidently used for gigs and events... a quick web search will enlighten ...although can visit Castle and Park when open (times on Web). All is a relatively short walk from Caldicot town centre (which iregrettably is dismal and soulless). Parking available in grounds... but unless booked and paid prior (connected to an event)...forget it. You won't get in, and the approach roads get very convoluted (as does the pub at the entrance). In summary,...Nice setting for gigs / events..but all rather 'a corporate rip off' these days and not the earthy more genuine...