Morris Castle
Encyclopedia
Morris Castle is the name given to a ruined building that is situated off Trewyddfa Road above the Landore
area of Swansea
, South Wales
. It was built between 1768 and 1774 on behalf of Sir John Morris to house the families of workers at his industrial enterprises (mainly the copper works of Landore).
The building originally consisted of four interconnected towers, each four stories tall. The towers were connected by blocks which were three stories tall, surrounding a central courtyard. Today, the structure is derelict, with only partial remains of two towers still standing, although several features of the building can still be seen, including the fireplaces, chimneys, and some of the windows.
In 1815, Walter Davies, in collaboration with Edward Williams
, wrote a survey of the economy of South Wales, and said of Sir John Morris that, "he seems to have been the most extensive individual builder of comfortable habitations for the labouring class. He first erected a kind of castellated lofty mansion, of a collegiate appearance, with an interior quadrangle, containing the dwellings for forty families, all colliers, excepting one tailor, and one shoemaker, who are considered as useful appendages to the fraternity."
The building was occupied until around 1850, when nearby open cast mining made the structure unsafe.
The building was purchased from the Beaufort Estate by Swansea City Council and is also listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument with CADW
.
Landore
Landore is the name of an electoral ward, a community in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, UK. The community does not have a community council....
area of Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
. It was built between 1768 and 1774 on behalf of Sir John Morris to house the families of workers at his industrial enterprises (mainly the copper works of Landore).
The building originally consisted of four interconnected towers, each four stories tall. The towers were connected by blocks which were three stories tall, surrounding a central courtyard. Today, the structure is derelict, with only partial remains of two towers still standing, although several features of the building can still be seen, including the fireplaces, chimneys, and some of the windows.
In 1815, Walter Davies, in collaboration with Edward Williams
Iolo Morganwg
Edward Williams, better known by his bardic name Iolo Morganwg , was an influential Welsh antiquarian, poet, collector, and literary forger. He was widely considered a leading collector and expert on medieval Welsh literature in his day, but after his death it was revealed that he had forged a...
, wrote a survey of the economy of South Wales, and said of Sir John Morris that, "he seems to have been the most extensive individual builder of comfortable habitations for the labouring class. He first erected a kind of castellated lofty mansion, of a collegiate appearance, with an interior quadrangle, containing the dwellings for forty families, all colliers, excepting one tailor, and one shoemaker, who are considered as useful appendages to the fraternity."
The building was occupied until around 1850, when nearby open cast mining made the structure unsafe.
Recent history
On the 25th January 1990, the easternmost wall of the structure collapsed in high winds during a storm.The building was purchased from the Beaufort Estate by Swansea City Council and is also listed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument with CADW
Cadw
-Conservation and Protection:Many of Wales's great castles and other monuments, such as bishop's palaces, historic houses, and ruined abbeys, are now in Cadw's care. Cadw does not own them but is responsible for their upkeep and for making them accessible to the public...
.