Fonmon () is a
hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
in the
Vale of Glamorgan
The Vale of Glamorgan ( ), locally referred to as ''The Vale'', is a Principal areas of Wales, county borough in the South East Wales, south-east of Wales. It borders Bridgend County Borough to the west, Cardiff to the east, Rhondda Cynon Taf t ...
in south
Wales
Wales ( ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the England–Wales border, east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic ...
. It lies just off the
B4265 road to the northwest of
Font-y-Gary and
Rhoose on the western side of
Cardiff Airport
Cardiff Airport () is an airport in Rhoose, Vale of Glamorgan. It is the only airport offering commercial passenger services and cargo services in Wales. The airport is owned by the Welsh Government, operating it at arm's length as a commercia ...
. The hamlet is best known for its central duck pond and
Fonmon Castle, a historical house located on the otherside of the B4265 road to the north. The largest house in the hamlet is called The Gables, accessed off a drive on the left approaching Fonmon from the north. A number of the houses in the area are thatched roofed.
Castle
Fonmon Castle is one of the few medieval castles which are still lived in as a home. Since it was built by the St. John family c.1200, it has only changed hands once.
Oliver St John of Fonmon was one of the legendary
Twelve Knights of Glamorgan who effected the Norman conquest of Glamorgan. The St John family is today represented by the
Viscounts Bolingbroke. The castle is still in use as a private residence. The present owners, the
Boothby baronets, are descendants of
Colonel Philip Jones, who bought the house in 1654.
In 1762 the castle was renovated by
Thomas Paty of Bristol for its owner at the time, Robert Jones.
The ceilings and library were designed by
Thomas Stocking in the
Rococo
Rococo, less commonly Roccoco ( , ; or ), also known as Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and dramatic style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpte ...
style and extensive gardens were added.
In 2022, archaeologists have discovered around 70 ancient graves on the grounds of Fonmon Castle, near the runway of Cardiff Airport. The graves are believed be dated to the 6th or 7th Century.
Gallery
File:Pond, ducks and bridge, Fonmon, Vale of Glamorgan - geograph.org.uk - 1028271.jpg, Duck pond
File:East Hall, Fonmon. Vale of Glamorgan - geograph.org.uk - 1028263.jpg, East Hall, Fonmon
File:Fonmon Castle.jpg, Fonmon Castle
References
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Villages in the Vale of Glamorgan
Hamlets in Wales