Two-in-one architectural wonder Tretower Court and Castle welcomes Windrush Cymru Elders for a guided tour
On 21 October, Tretower Court and Castle welcomed a group of 28 Windrush Cymru Elders as part of a wider Cadw and Race Council Cymru project.
The autumnal Welsh sunshine provided a bright backdrop for an expert guided tour by Cadw’s Lead Custodian, Ian Andrews.
The group listened intently to the history of the 13th-century castle and 15th-century manor house, once the home of Sir Roger Vaughan – a member of one of the most powerful Yorkist families in mid-Wales and ally to the even more powerful Sir William Herbert of Raglan Castle.
Medieval kitchen etiquette was a hands-on affair with Cadw custodian Rose Waters who gave a demonstration of how to make Marchpanes (the forerunner of marzipan), before the group were led into the great hall, dressed as it may have appeared during the sumptuous feasts of the Vaughan heyday in the 1460s and 1470s.
The visitors were given an explanation of the medieval seating arrangements, of which the high table, positioned on a raised dais and adorned with the finest tableware and linen, was the most important, reserved for Sir Roger and his guests.
The Elders then took time to explore the first floor and meander along the wooden gallery — an original feature of the court house — before relaxing in the recreated 15th-century pleasure garden, replete with dripping fountain and trees of almond, quince and mulberry.
The Windrush Cymru Elders are a proactive group who promote understanding of the concerns and needs of ethnic minority elders, whilst celebrating key milestones and marking the contributions of people of African descent. For a number of the group, this was the first time they had visited a Cadw monument and many expressed a desire to explore more of our sites in the future.
Race Council Cymru tweeted:
Thank you @cadwwales for taking the time to show us round Tre Tower Court and Castle yesterday. Great to see so many faces in the sunshine.
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