Oxwich Castle occupies a position on a wooded headland overlooking Oxwich Bay on the Gower Peninsula, West Wales.

Although it may occupy the site of an earlier fortification, this is a castle in name only as it is a grand Tudor manor house built in courtyard style. A product of the peaceful 16th century, Oxwich was built by Sir Rice Mansel to provide sumptuous accommodation. He gave it a mock military gateway complete with family coat of arms. Sir Rice's work was confined to the southern block and was completed between the 1520s and 30s. On Mansel's death his son, Sir Edward Mansel succeeded to the property and between 1560-80 created the much grander style multi-storied range which contained an impressive hall and elegantlong gallery - a fashionable Elizabethan feature. The six- storey south-east tower which still survives probably accommodated the family and servants. After the Mansel's moved out in the 1630s the castle fell into disrepair and the south range was used as a farmhouse.

The building is now in the care of Cadw.

 Address:

Oxwich Castle
c/o Oxwich Castle Farm,
Oxwich,
Swansea SA3 1NG

 Telephone:

01792 390359

 Website:

http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?id=6&PlaceID=102

 Admission Charge:-

Adult - £2.50, Concession - £2.00, Family - £7.00

 Hours:

Spring Opening Times:
1.04.06 - 30.09.06: 10.00 - 17.00
 
Summer Opening Times:
1.04.06 - 30.09.06: 10.00 - 17.00
 
Autumn Opening Times:
1.04.06 - 30.09.06: 10.00 - 17.00
 
Winter Opening Times:
1.10.06 - 31.03.07: closed

Most sites are closed on 24, 25 and 26 December and 1 January.

 Facilities for the Disabled:

The pay desk and exhibition area have level flagstone floors and are reached by a firm path (though uneven in places). There are stairs to the first floor exhibition. The paths in the grounds and the ruins have uneven surfaces. There are information panels.

The castle car park has a sloping grasscrete surface.

There is a Radar key toilet on site.

Disabled visitors and their assisting companion will be admitted free of charge to all monuments. Please note that, for health reasons, dogs are not allowed on Cadw sites, but guide dogs and hearing dogs for the deaf are welcome.

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