User:Davidgareththomas/Castle House, Laugharne

Castle House, Laugharne is a Grade 2* listed Georgian Mansion. Described by Dylan Thomas, as “the best of houses in the best of places” it is one of many fine examples in the ancient township.

It was built in the 1730's, although refurbished in the regency period to provide its imposing facade. Castle House is a three storey five bay rendered facade in which the central three bays are slightly advanced. The central doorway has a pediment doorcase and there are widely spaced tripartite windows above, the uppermost in the Venetian style. The low pitched slate roof is concealed by a broad cornice. The house has an overall U plan, with several lower projecting wings to the rear. Within there are several fine Regency interiors including the only example in Carmarthenshire of a Thomas Chippendale staircase.

To the rear there are outbuildings, depicted on the 1st edition OS County series (Carmarthen. XLV.14 1889). The Castle grounds were extensively landscaped from the eighteenth century to serve as a garden to the house. The title of Laugharne Castle is still with the house, although it is now in the guardianship of CADW.

Until recently it was in the ownership of the Starke family who built it, although it is now the private residence of the daughter of the local artist David Petersen (sculptor). Castle house has long had artistic links as Dylan Thomas wrote portrait of an artist as a young dog, whilst staying at the house and Richard Hughes wrote In Hazard whilst living there.