Fonmon Castle, Glamorgan

Fonmon castle in Glamorgan, Wales is thought to have been built between the late 12th and early 13th century by the St John family. Oliver St.John, 2nd Earl Bolingbroke sold the castle to Colonel Philip Jones in 1656. The Colonel’s descendants, the Boothby family, lived in the castle until 2018.

St John family members lived at Fonmon from around 1200 until about 1400. After years of tenanted occupation it was rather neglected by the time Philip Jones bought the property, but he instituted ambitious improvements both to the castle and the gardens.

Margaret Beauchamp’s husband Oliver St.John of Fonmon was the last member of the family to use the title “of Fonmon” though he also owned several estates in England as well.