Ruperra Castle was owned by the Morgan family and became part of the Tredegar House estate in 1715
Ruperra Castle and Tredegar House
Sir Thomas Morgan built Ruperra Castle in 1626. Between 1664 and 1674, his distant relative, William Morgan, redesigned and built Tredegar House as it stands today. Ruperra Castle is just over 6 miles away from Tredegar House which lies on the west of Newport.
John the Merchant was the 4th son of Thomas Morgan and Elizabeth Windham and the brother of William Morgan of Tredegar House. As the 4th son he inherited £50 to make his own way in the world, while his eldest brother inherited the Tredegar estate. Working as a London merchant he made a fortune and in 1706 he purchased Ruperra Castle for £12,400 as his retirement home (the Castle was not owned by the Morgan family for the previous 51 years and had changed hands several times).
In 1715 Ruperra Castle became part of the Tredegar House estate and served as a home for its future heirs. John the merchant had died without an heir, so the Ruperra estate was left to his nephew John Morgan, youngest son of William Morgan the builder of Tredegar House.
In 1935, Evan Morgan was head of the Tredegar estate and Ruperra Castle. He put Ruperra Castle up for sale but there was no interest. The contents of the Castle were disposed of in a three-day sale, what remained was taken to Tredegar House.
When World War II broke out Ruperra Castle was requisitioned for the training of soldiers. Tragically the Castle was gutted by fire in 1941 caused by faulty electric wiring.
Eventually the Tredegar estate was sold by the last Lord Tredegar, John Morgan 6th:
John the Merchant was the 4th son of Thomas Morgan and Elizabeth Windham and the brother of William Morgan of Tredegar House. As the 4th son he inherited £50 to make his own way in the world, while his eldest brother inherited the Tredegar estate. Working as a London merchant he made a fortune and in 1706 he purchased Ruperra Castle for £12,400 as his retirement home (the Castle was not owned by the Morgan family for the previous 51 years and had changed hands several times).
In 1715 Ruperra Castle became part of the Tredegar House estate and served as a home for its future heirs. John the merchant had died without an heir, so the Ruperra estate was left to his nephew John Morgan, youngest son of William Morgan the builder of Tredegar House.
In 1935, Evan Morgan was head of the Tredegar estate and Ruperra Castle. He put Ruperra Castle up for sale but there was no interest. The contents of the Castle were disposed of in a three-day sale, what remained was taken to Tredegar House.
When World War II broke out Ruperra Castle was requisitioned for the training of soldiers. Tragically the Castle was gutted by fire in 1941 caused by faulty electric wiring.
Eventually the Tredegar estate was sold by the last Lord Tredegar, John Morgan 6th:
- Tredegar House was sold to the sisters of St Joseph of Annecy in 1951
- Ruperra Castle and 53,000 acres of land was bought by Eagle Star insurance company in 1956. More recently, parts of the estate have been sold to different owners.
