Cardiff Castle
From Ffaith
Despite appearances, the present Cardiff Castle is not a wholly medieval construction. It was commissioned by the third Marquess of Bute and designed by William Burges in the nineteenth century. The foundations, however have a history stretching back 2000 years to the Roman occupation and perhaps beyond.
The castle has seen many additions and reconstructions notably those in Norman times and during the tenure of Gilbert de Clare, principally remembered as one of the barons of the Magna Carta. But it was after the lordship had passed to the Bute family that the most intensive period of restoration started.
In the 1770s, Capability Brown and his son-in-law Henry Holland landscaped the grounds and modernised the lodgings. John Stuart 2nd Marquess of Bute, known as 'The Founder of Modern Cardiff', commissioned further restoration in the 1820s. His son, John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute - destined to become one of the greatest private patrons of architecture this country has seen - invited architect William Burges to present a report on the the Castle. The commission initiated a momentous sixteen year long partnership during which Cardiff Castle was transformed into a neo gothic dream palace.
After Burges' death in 1881, work was continued by his former assistant William Frame. Frame built the Animal Wall and was responsible for restoring the North Gate. John Stuart died in 1900 and the 4th Marquess continued the restoration of the walls. The Roman Wall to Duke Street and Barbican Tower were rebuilt in 1920-1925 and a new entrance hall to the castle was added in 1927.
In 1947 the Castle was handed to the people of Cardiff. Today, Cardiff Council is responsible for the ancient Castle and the current restorations of Burges' wonderful transposition.