Victorian Castles

The courtyard of Castell Coch

The Madonna above the gateway of Castell Coch
The courtyard at Castell Coch

Above the entrance is a sculpture of the Madonna and child, the only relief to a stark grey interior and a sign of the Marquise of Bute's Catholicism. Inside is a small, and what could be described as quaint, courtyard. Up a flight of steps is a covered walkway that curves round the inside of the castle walls at first floor level and immediately gives the impression of being in a European castle. Looking up at the towers the compact design of the castle becomes apparent with various architectural features and projections squashed into the limited space.

The Interiors of Castell Coch

The interiors take a major step away from the cold exterior. Some are elaborately decorated in realms of pure fantasy. The drawing room contains murals of Aesop's fables painted on the walls round the room. Above, depictions of branches containing monkeys and squirrels reach to a gallery level. Above the gallery is a vaulted ceiling with a night sky of stars and birds painted between the supporting ribs. Lady Bute's bedroom has French; Gothic and Moorish influences intermixed with pure fantasy. The double domed ceiling is mirrored and adorned with brambles and thorns, the sleeping beauty motif. The walls are lined with arched alcoves and decorated with gold leaf. A toilet is built into the thickness of the walls and appropriately called the garderobe.

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