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Castell Cottage located in the lovely South Wales town of Caerphilly. Castell Cottage is only minutes from Caerphilly town centre, Caerphilly Castle, numerous golf courses, pubs, restaurants and much more.
Located in an extremely convenient position for public transport, on St Martin's Road (regarded as one of the most prestigious roads in Caerphilly)
Castell Cottage is less than one minutes walk to Caerphilly
train station, where within 15 minutes you can be in Wales' bustling capital
city Cardiff or, in the opposite direction, to the heart of the Valleys, the
mining towns and their rich heritage.
Less than 10 metres from your front door is where the local bus stops.
Castell Cottage provides you with a cosy base from which you can explore the whole of South Wales. Maybe you have a trip planned to see an event at the Millennium Stadium or you may be visiting Cardiff Bay or a theatre. Whatever your reason for visiting, Castell Cottage provides well appointed 4 star accommodation for up to 4 people in a very convenient location. Your hosts, Tom and Gaynor Leach will ensure that you have a pleasant, relaxing and enjoyable stay.
The name Caerphilly suggests Roman connections as the word 'Caer' is derived
from the Latin 'Castra' meaning fort. There are certainly a lot of Roman finds
in the area and in 1960 a Roman fort was partially excavated about 100 yards
south east of the castle.
In 1268, Gilbert de Clare, the Norman Lord of Glamorgan, started the building of
Caerphilly Castle. Two years later, however, these early structures were razed
to the ground by the army of Llewellyn, Prince of Wales. It was only after the
intervention of Henry III that further attacks by the Welsh Princes were averted
and the building of the castle resumed.
Over the centuries, attacks on the castle by warring factions led to its decay
and disrepair and during the Civil War the Parliamentarians tried unsuccessfully
to blow up the towers, which resulted in one tower being blasted nine feet out
of perpendicular, so now it leans more than the Tower of Pisa. Caerphilly Castle
is the second largest in Britain. It has always played an important part in the
life of Caerphilly, one of its functions in the 15th century being a local jail.
In the 19th century it was used not only for the town's eisteddfodau and
religious rallies but for festivals, concerts, military tattoos and
horticultural shows.
Every self-respecting castle has its ghost and Caerphilly is no exception. For
centuries, legend tells us that the 'Ghost of the Green Lady' has haunted the
Castle. It seems the Green Lady was once Princess Alice of Angouleme, a niece of
Henry II, and bride of Gilbert de Clare, the 'Red Earl' who rebuilt Caerphilly
Castle.
Until the 1850s, the main function of Caerphilly was its weekly market and
annual fairs. However, in the 1890s, after the sinking of the deep mines and the
resultant flourishing railway system, Caerphilly experienced a period of rapid
growth. It was soon transformed from a mere Welsh speaking rural village, its
1,500 inhabitants being housed in about 250 small whitewashed cottages hugging
the castle wall, to a population today totalling over 30,000.
But it is for its cheese, 'Caws Caerfili' that Caerphilly is known worldwide.
The early cheese makers described it as 'a most creamy cheese of a quick
ripening kind', ready for sale and consumption 10-14 days after manufacture.
Miners in particular, found it an ideal sustaining food and today cheese makers
in several countries have made use of its fame to produce and market Caerphilly
cheese. The making of farm cheese dates from medieval times and in 1874: there
was a cheese market operating in Caerphilly.
Caerphilly self catering holiday cottages