Coity Castle

Midday I met up with a retired work friend who lives in Coity, Bridgend. After  more than a couple of hours chatting I left and drove the short distance to Coity Castle.

The castle began as a late 11th century ringwork. A rectangular stone keep and the main curtain wall were added by the Normans in the 12th century, under the de Turberville family. The three-storey keep was primarily a defensive structure.

Remains of central octagonal pier for the vaults of Coity Castle. Extensive reworking took place in the 14th century, when a domestic range was attached to the keep by the middle gatehouse. New stone vaults replaced the earlier timber floors. The central octagonal pier for the vaults is still prominent among the castle ruins. An adjoining chapel wing with a tall east window was added to the first floor at the eastern end of the domestic range in the 15th century.