Fonmon ( cy, Ffwl-y-mwn) is a

hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depi ...

in the

Vale of Glamorgan The Vale of Glamorgan ( cy, Bro Morgannwg ), often referred to as The Vale, is a county borough in the south-east of Wales. It borders Bridgend County Borough to the west, Cardiff to the east, Rhondda Cynon Taf to the north, and the Bristol ...

in south

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...

. It lies just off the B4265 road to the northwest of Font-y-Gary and

Rhoose Rhoose ( , cy, Y Rhws from "the moor") is a village and community near the sea (the Bristol Channel) in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, near Barry. The wider community includes villages and settlements such as Font-y-Gary, Penmark, East Aber ...

on the western side of

Cardiff Airport Cardiff Airport ( cy, Maes Awyr Caerdydd) is the only airport offering commercial passenger services in Wales. It has been under the ownership of the Welsh Government since March 2013, operating at an arm's length as a commercial business. Pa ...

. The hamlet is best known for its central duck pond and

Fonmon Castle , map_type = Wales Vale of Glamorgan , map_caption = Location within the Vale of Glamorgan , map_alt = , map_size = 250 , coordinates = , established = , dissolved = , location = ...

, 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 , map_type = Wales Vale of Glamorgan , map_caption = Location within the Vale of Glamorgan , map_alt = , map_size = 250 , coordinates = , established = , dissolved = , location = ...

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 Thomas Paty (c.1713 – 4 May 1789) was a British surveyor, architect and mason working mainly in Bristol. He worked with his sons John Paty and William Paty. Career Thomas Paty came from a family of builders but little is known of his origin ...

of Bristol for its owner at the time, Robert Jones. The ceilings and library were designed by

Thomas Stocking Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...

in the

Rococo Rococo (, also ), less commonly Roccoco or Late Baroque, is an exceptionally ornamental and theatrical style of architecture, art and decoration which combines asymmetry, scrolling curves, gilding, white and pastel colours, sculpted moulding, ...

style and extensive gardens were added.

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 , map_type = Wales Vale of Glamorgan , map_caption = Location within the Vale of Glamorgan , map_alt = , map_size = 250 , coordinates = , established = , dissolved = , location = ...

References

{{authority control Villages in the Vale of Glamorgan Hamlets in Wales