History

Dunraven Castle, an early C19 castellated gothic-style mansion, was situated on a cliff top overlooking the sea. The site has a long and almost continuous history, starting as an Iron Age hillfort. A Norman castle here was awarded to the de Londres family of Ogmore, and then to the Butlers. It was probably rebuilt in the C15 as a manor house, and recorded thus by Leland in the 1530s as a ‘the manor place’. It is shown in an engraving of c 1776 with features such as mullioned windows. At this time it is said to have included many of the older elements including a chapel and burial place. It passed to the Vaughans, then to the Wyndham family in the C16, and finally to the Earls of Dunraven.

The castle was rebuilt in 1802-6 by Thomas Wyndham of Clearwell Castle, Gloucestershire, as a hunting seat. The design was drawn up by Mrs Wyndham, though it appears to be based on the design for Clearwell Castle, by Roger Morris, 1728. It was remodelled in 1858 by Egbert Moxham, for Caroline Wyndham; the central tower was replaced by a conservatory and the N and S wings were raised. It was extended with a tower and wing on the seaward side by George Devey in 1886-8. The castle was demolished in 1962, having been used as a hotel, and only the footings survive.

The park was a deer park in the C17. The park walls, lodges, entrances and drives are probably contemporary with the rebuilding of the house in 1802-6. The sea walks in the park were designed by Lord Dunraven in 1840.

Said to be c 1830, though not clearly shown on the St. Brides Major Tithe Map of 1840. The lodge was apparently occupied by one of the gate-keepers although this was not the main lodge in the early C19. More recently lived in by the gamekeeper.

Exterior

Gothic-style, single-storey lodge of random masonry under a slate roof. Main E-W range with lower S wing to front, offset to L. Gabled porch in SE angle. Short N wing, with long, low service range extending N from NW angle. The W side of the lodge is contiguous with the boundary wall of the park. Tall stone ridge stacks to main range and at angle of S wing and porch, both with polygonal shafts. Further small stack to N service range. Detail includes raised copings to gables on kneelers, quoins and stone dressings. The windows are wooden lancets with ogee heads, sometimes paired, with opening lights.

The front (S) gable has paired lancets under a relieving arch. The porch to the R is slightly set back, and has a doorway with flat stone lintel and curved shoulders. The boarded door has studs and fleur-de-lis style hinges.

The main range has a gable to the W end, with paired lancets under a relieving arch. The park boundary wall extends N from the NW angle, immediately in front of the long low service wing. There are no openings in the W side of the S cross wing.

The E end of the main range is canted under a hipped roof with splayed eaves and stone copings. There is a single lancet to each face, and 1 to the E side of the N wing. The porch gable faces E and has a window of 3 ogee heads under a square hoodmould under a relieving arch, with quarry glazing. In the apex is an inset tablet with fleur-de-lis top. The E side of the long service range has a planked door to the R, and a single light window to the L. The N wing has a hipped roof.

A semi-octagonal gate pier with swept pyramidal cap is built into the SW angle of the lodge. It forms the N side of a pedestrian gateway into the park.

Interior

No access at time of inspection (22/1/98). Said to have the crest of Caroline of Dunraven set in the wall inside the porch.

Reasons for Listing

Listed as an exceptionally well preserved Gothic-style lodge.
Group value with boundary walls to N and S and with other listed items in the park.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29499091

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Somerset: South and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings and Other Heritage Assets
• 
  Old House Eco Handbook: A Practical Guide to Retrofitting for Energy-Efficiency & Sustainability
• 
  England's Post-War Listed Buildings
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)