Castell Coch contains ten stained glass windows that were originally housed in a wooden chapel. This part of the castle was demolished but the glass panels are now on display in the Well Tower.
One of the stained glass windows depicts the patron saint of Wales, St David. He’s shown standing on a hill with a white dove on his shoulder.
You can read more about St David’s Day on the Amgueddfa Cymru website.
Dewi Sant
The windows were designed by William Burges and created by the artist Horatio Lonsdale, who worked at Saunders & Co.
Two of the original 20 glass panels were missing until they came up for auction in 2010. Cadw managed to acquire them and they were returned to the castle in 2013. The other ten are displayed in Cardiff Castle.
The panels were fitted in the timber-framed chapel in 1878. They are now displayed in the former chapel’s vestibule at the top of the Well Tower.
I’ve created this graphic that shows where the chapel was constructed. The four large corbels (stone supports) are still visible. There’s a brilliant photo of the chapel on an information board in the castle.
The windows show various Celtic saints. Four of which are the name-saints of Lord and Lady Bute’s children.
Bute’s children were called Margaret, John, Ninian and Colum. Column was named after St. Columba of Iona, the 6th-century Irish abbot who brought Christianity to Scotland.
Pixel Art Illustration
I created this pixel art illustration of St David last year.
I’ve considered selling my designs as prints or on greetings cards.
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus
I designed this dragon for my other site, Tongwynlais.com, a few years ago. I hope everyone enjoys St David’s Day, and remember to do the little things.
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus i ti, Jack.
Thanks for another insightful article with shows the rich history of the castle and its links to celtic history, both Welsh and Scottish.