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Notable Houses in and around Llanelli

New Castle (Pen y Castell)

The New Castle (Pen y Castell), probably a fortified residence which is thought to have been built on the site of the Ancient Roman Marching Camp, near were Castle Buildings stand today, was first heard of in the reign of Edward II (1307-27).

New Castle was the home of Morris ap Elidir, a descendant of Elystan Glodrudd, known because of his residence as Morris Castle, Mores Castle or Morris de Castro Novo of Llanelly. Morris Castle married a daughter of Sir John Wiltshire, Captain of Dinefwr Castle and they had three sons, who married and had children.

From the eldest son, Walter, the Llanelli family of Williams, is descended with the last known being John Williams of Llanelli and Ciliau (8th in descent from Morris de Castro Novo). John Williams of Llanelli and Ciliau married Anne a daughter of William Walter of Roche Castle Pembrokeshire, and when her father died in 1616, he left her and her children a bequest.

Anne Walter was related to Lucy Walter who became the mistress of King Charles II. Lucy and Charles had a son James, who married Anne Scott, Countess Buccleuch and when his father died he became Duke of Monmouth.

James, Duke of Monmouth, was defeated by Royal armies at Sedgemoor in Somerset in 1685 and fled on horseback towards the Hampshire coast. Unfortunately for him he was taken prisoner and escorted back to London where he was beheaded.

Among other descendants of Morris Castle, were Richard Morris, a tailor of Carmarthen, who had two sons, John Morris, corvisor, and Anthony Morris, tailor, of London.

Castle Buildings

Built on or near the site of the original ‘New Castle’, which was first heard of in the reign of Edward II (1307-27), and thought to have been built on the site of an ancient Roman Marching Camp.