A Forgotten Castle - STORMY DOWN And Its Medieval Remains

Stormy Down near Porthcawl was the site of a Norman castle and a medieval grange.
Not a lot remains of this 12th-century castle but it is the reason why the area is called ‘Stormy Down’
Overlooking Porthcawl, Stormy Down can seem a bleak place. It was the site of a WWII airforce base, RAF Stormy Down. There are also a number of large limestone quarries.
People often think it's called “Stormy” because of its windswept location but the name derives from the name of the person who settled in the area and built a castle.
Not all of the early wooden Norman castles around this part of South Wales were fortified and strengthened in stone. Some were abandoned and all that remains are the classic shape of a Motte and Bailey castle. Stormy Down castle is one of those.
As well as the remains of the castle are the medieval remains of a grange which was once owned by the monks of nearby Margam Abbey. Around the medieval settlement, you can still see the outline of the buildings and a bit of the spiral stairs.
A footpath and bridleway run near the castle but the castle motte itself is on farmland so make sure you close the gates when visiting.
‘A Forgotten Castle - STORMY DOWN And Its Medieval Remains’ - Filmed March 2021
#Castles #VisitWales #StormyDown
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[@flydriveexplore]

Another local castle, this time it was strengthened in stone- Coity Castle kzbin.info/www/bejne/eaeXeIaBjtGHrKs

[@terrydavis6368]

These history videos you are making are great, better quality than TV.

[@barrycrump6189]

I must say, that the opening sequence to this video was just magical and very atmospheric. The rest of the video was very well done as well. Lots of nicely composed shots that lingered just enough to allow the viewer to take everything in, and all combined with an engaging and informed narrative and graphics. Keep up the good work.

[@flydriveexplore]

Cheers and thanks for the info about the Ramblers Association.

[@maggienificent]

Wow, this was so cool. I especially liked the spiral staircase.

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks, there are so many sites like this all over Wales.

[@johnnywalking83]

A little history and great views!

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks, it was a really nice day when I was up there.

[@andycoles4588]

Nice one 👍 Really interesting, love stuff like this and especially the bit about RAF Stormy Down. Thanks 👍👍

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@BEACHLIFE78]

A very intersting walk enjoyed watching 👍

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks

[@terrycollett1461]

Very interesting as always.Years ago I worked as a fireman on the railway and some of the time we worked goods trains to Port Talbot.The older more experienced fireman and drivers used to tease us juniors saying if we had to go fire a train to that area we’d never get over Stormy.There was a rather nasty in cline there which meant quite a bit of extra coal shovelling.This must have come from the word Sturmi that you mentioned.

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks again for watching. The mainline passes about 200 yards from the remains of the castle as it heads down towards Port Talbot

[@stevenedwards8502]

Just been recommended you're channel. I knew and I'm local for the Bailey went there in 93 a farmer let off a shell in them woods you was in. I Didn't know about the Grange buildings. Also the lost hamlet of tranch is up there. Thanks for sharing

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks for watching. It's an interesting little area around there.

[@anthonygreen9609]

Thank very much for the video. Very interesting and right on my doorstep.

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks for watching 👍

[@RobCharles1981]

Enjoyed that Marcus - many thanks! :-)

[@flydriveexplore]

Glad you liked it.

[@nimba1966]

Another wonderful video

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks. For us, exploring our local area was one of the few good things to come out of the lockdown. It helped us discover what was on our doorstep. Thanks for the email by the way, very much appreciated.

[@THINKincessantly]

Your choice of music always fits the scene..

[@livesportsvideo]

Hence Sturmi Way at Pyle village farm industrial estate. Spent many happy days up at Stormy, due to having friends living there in one of the local small holdings. I remember long hot summer days as a 10 year old running wild with friends a horse and an old beat up estate car that we were allowed to drive. Oh how time flies. Really enjoyed that Marcus, never knew any of the history, just that back in the day the quarry was used as an recycling tip, now long gone and filled in. Are you going to feature the Ton as there was an iron age settlement there. A local resident here in Porthcawl has a brother that owns the farm on the top, should you need permission to film, I am sure he would be in agreement to allow you to do so. Worth a try.

[@flydriveexplore]

Yes, lot of history up there that many don't know about. I was looking at the iron age settlement but was told that most of it has been destroyed by old quarrying.

[@zenzen9131]

Another great video Marcus. Although I'm a local lad I never knew anything about this old castle. Was nice chatting to you and Mel at Booth's yesterday too :)

[@flydriveexplore]

Yes, it was good to put a face to an online name. Hopefully, we'll be able to head back to the US and more road trips in the not too distant future.

[@stevepowell6671]

Great video. I remember there use to be a surplus stormy year ago. Use to walk up there from Cornelly. Didnt know there was once a castle up there.

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks. Yep, not a lot of people know about the site of the old castle.

[@projectearth6475]

Ayyyy shout out to Porthcawl and Bridgend Area! Keep it up and great research!

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks! Will do!

[@robertwooldridge3590]

I always enjoy your videos

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks

[@DC245100]

Lovely video

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks.

[@20PhantoM07]

That was nice I enjoyed that thanks, I live just down the road but I had trouble fixing your location there, 🤔I would like to go see now.

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks, yes, you should take a look.

[@tracyllewellyn5942]

I am loving your videos , I found them last week. If you are ever in bridgend there's a town called Maesteg and there you will.find a cracking chip shop called The Blue Pearl on Talbot Street. Absolutely stunning Cod and chips and their Irish curry is so nice you can drink it haha. Fish is cooked to order and is skinless and boneless, give it a try you won't be disappointed!.

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks, we'll definitely give them a go if we are in the area.

[@cjhobbyfly8597]

Another lovely vid... watching your videos is making me want to make similar videos for my own little part of the world :)

[@flydriveexplore]

You should give it a try.

[@grahamecarter]

Great vid bud. That on my doorstep. Might take a trip one day.

[@flydriveexplore]

Cheers, worth a walk if you have time one day.

[@OnASeasideMission]

Eek! Umpteen years living in Nottage and even Mister Morgan at Porthcawl Sec never mentioned it. Zig-Zag Lane, yes. That was a funny one.

[@flydriveexplore]

He must have missed that one! I didn't really know much about the place myself until recently.

[@johnmcdyer7297]

Yet again fabulous little film Marcus I’m waiting for the fish and chips results and I don’t own none of them ,,, thanks both

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks, we'll be doing our last chip shop this week.

[@fredexton4873]

Fabulous video Marcus,I've spent many a happy hour there looking about,did you notice the well head next to the mound? The little stone bridge just through the farm gate between the Mott and Bailey and the later Grange,along with the outline of the pond and stream,thank you very much for taking me back a good number of year's,there's another Mott and Bailey castle just outside of Pencoed,but that's a bit out of your Porthcawl zone/remit,worth a look out of interest just for yourself if you have the time one day,once again thanks for posting the video it's much appreciated.

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks, I did notice the little stone bridge in the field and knew there was a well in the area but not sure where it was exactly, I thought I found it but wasn't sure.

[@Lexthebarbarian]

The beautiful and melancholic music, were can I get it? Who is it?

[@flydriveexplore]

On Foot - Underbelly & Ty Mayer Wandering Soul - Asher Fulero These could be the tracks, both are available in the free KZbin Audio Library

[@barrycrump6189]

What an excellent video. I will be able to visit this magical place very soon as I am in the process of moving to the Valleys.

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks, there is more to explore but a lot is on private land with no access. Also, quite a few of the footpaths have 'disappeared' and signs removed.

[@barrycrump6189]

@@flydriveexplore Thanks for the Heads up about access. However, it is worth considering the following: The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 ( CROW Act ) normally gives a public right of access to land mapped as 'open country' (mountain, moor, heath and down) or registered common land. These areas are known as 'open access land''. Following a long and complex exercise to identify and map wild, open countryside, the right to roam came into effect across the whole of England and Wales on 31 October 2005. Check the Ramblers Association website for more information on the Right to Roam. They have a downloadable pdf factsheet that explains it all in full. Just Google search using the following search term: The “Right to Roam” in England and Wales - Ramblers Alternatively, just be pleasant and ask the farmer if you can access his land. If you are without a dog most will say yes.

[@flydriveexplore]

@@barrycrump6189 Thanks for the info, the farmer where Stormy Down castle is located was friendly and many are OK with you crossing their land. However, a couple of other land-owning estates around us seem to be trying to remove long-established paths. I will check the websites you mention.

[@barrycrump6189]

@Chris Wings It Thanks for the reply which was nicely put. We should bear in mind the following concept. Landowners may well own the land but we have rights to roam.

[@barrycrump6189]

@@flydriveexplore Hello Marcus, if you are aware of any attempts to remove rights of way (I can tolerate the re-routing of paths to maintain privacy) then please let the Ramblers Association know (even if you aren't a member). They will fight tooth and nail to prevent this and have the financial and legal muscle to do so. Every walker or rambler should consider joining and supporting the Ramblers Association. They don't just fight to protect our roaming rights but offer all sorts of general walking advice, route guides and group tours and gatherings -should you enjoy that sort of thing.

[@KitchenBuddha]

Is this related to the STRAWBS song Stormy Down? Bought their albums serving in Germany and love them.

[@flydriveexplore]

Yes, apparently they saw the name when touring. I'm not sure if their van broke down there or they just passed it.

[@KitchenBuddha]

@@flydriveexplore He sings it like an acid trip, but that was the 70's,. "I thought I saw the Devil, he looked a bit like me"... And Cousins has a very haunting voice already.

[@PeteLewisWoodwork]

Well, well, well, I've always known Stormy Down but would never have guessed it was named after someone; I always thought it was named after - well - storms...! 😐

[@snowman3630]

GREAT SPOT OF HISTORY M&M BLOODY FRENCH 🤨 LOL 🤣😆🤣 HAPPY EASTER FOLKS 😁

[@flydriveexplore]

Thanks, Happy Easter to you too.

[@AnthonyEvelyn]

Lord Sturmi's last name belies his Danish ancestry.

[@leebowen2439]

I`m suprised your not into metal detecting with your knowledge of history of our area.

[@flydriveexplore]

The person who told me to visit Stormy Castle used to metal detect in the neighbouring fields. (He knew the local farmer)

[@leebowen2439]

@@flydriveexplore I`m hoping to get permission tomorrow having visited the area today

[@leebowen2439]

Kind of strange i spoke to the farmer half hour ago he has no clue of a video being shot there or metal detecing on his land anyway it`s protected by CADW so it`s a no go

[@flydriveexplore]

@@leebowen2439 It was a few weeks ago and I was with the bloke I mentioned. I usually say I'm taking pics as I use a small DSLR camera. If you mention a video they think of the BBC and a big film crew. He used to go metal detecting (he hasn't been for a few years and knows the farmer) in the field by the bridleway and not in the castle grounds. The farmer probably doesn't want to encourage more detectorists.

[@leebowen2439]

@@flydriveexplore Ok thanks for the explination