William Ap Thomas - Raglan Castle

Raglan Castle

When Sir John Bloet died, Raglan manor passed to Elizabeth Bloet and her husband James Berkeley. When William's wife, Elizabeth died in 1420, Elizabeth's son Lord James Berkeley inherited Raglan Manor. William resided at Raglan manor as a tenant of his stepson until 1432 when he purchased the manor from Lord Berkeley.

Grandious expansion for defense and comfort occurred between 1432 when William ap Thomas bought the manor and 1469 when his son, Sir William Herbert, was executed. Improvements by father and son included the twin-towered gatehouse, five storied Great Tower encircled by a moat, a self-contained fortress in its own right, South Gate, Pitched Stone Court, drawbridge and portcullis.

Thomas Churchyard praised Raglan Castle in his 15th century book of poetry, "Worthiness of Wales":

"The Earle of Penbroke that was created Earle by King Edward the four bult the Castell sumptuously at the first

Not farre from thence, a famous castle fine

That Raggland hight, stands moted almost round

Made of freestone, upright straight as line

Whose workmanship in beautie doth abound

The curious knots, wrought all with edged toole

The stately tower, that looks ore pond and poole

The fountaine trim, that runs both day and night

Doth yield in showe, a rare and noble sight"

Dafydd Llwyd proclaimed Raglan the castle with its "hundred rooms filled with festive fare, its hundred towers, parlours and doors, its hundred heaped-up fires of long- dried fuel, its hundred chimneys for men of high degree."