Tucked away in the landscape of Carmarthenshire, Wales, lies Llansteffan Castle – a historic ruin overlooking the River Towy estuary in Carmarthen Bay. In 2022, a six-episode television series titled Teulu'r Castell followed businesswoman Marian Evans, her husband and two daughters, after they purchased the 100-acre Plas Farm in a confidential deal. The purchase included ownership and responsibility for Llansteffan Castle, which the family is developing into a wedding venue.
The castle was built by the Normans after 1100 as part of their invasion of Wales. It was granted to the Marmion family before passing to the Camvilles through marriage. The site has been inhabited for several millennia, as the castle sits on a much older Iron Age promontory fort. The original earthwork rings of this fort were used as part of the modern castle's defence system.
Throughout history, the castle was taken and retaken on numerous occasions. It was captured by Maredudd ap Gruffydd in 1146 and retaken by the Normans in 1158. Llywelyn the Great recaptured it for the Welsh in 1215, and it fell to Llywelyn ap Gruffudd in 1257. By 1367, the castle was described as being in a poor state. It was later granted to the Crown and the two-tower Gatehouse was converted into a residence.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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