The Heritage Hiker’s Guide to St Donats

St Donats, Where is it?

St Donats – Saint Dunwyd is a village located just west of Llantwit Major. It is named after the 6th-century saint, Dunwyd, a friend of Saint Cadoc. The village is known for its 12th century castle which is now home to Atlantic College (an international boarding school) and Arts Centre.

How old is St Donat’s Castle?

St Donat’s Castle was built in the late 12^th century in stone on top of an earlier earthwork. The earliest remains of the castle are the outer and inner curtain walls built around 1300.  The Stradling family developed the castle consistently until the 1640s when the Civil Wars stopped any further work. It was then leased out to tenants from the mid-1600s and its condition declined until it was bought by a Dr J W Nicholl-Carne in 1862. Dr Nicholl-Carne started repairing the property and more work followed over the years to remodel and rebuild the interior and exterior of the castle. The castle was famously owned by William Randolph Hearst in the 1920/30s .The castle was bought in 1960 and was to become the home of the education facility Atlantic College.

For those hoping to visit and look inside, the college hold open days and offer castle tours (charges apply) or you can simply view it by walking along the footpath to St Donat’s Church and look up at the impressive outer façade of the West side of the castle and its walls.

What is William Randolph Hearst’s connection with St Donat’s Castle?

During the 1920s and 1930s St Donat’s Castle was owned by William Randolph Hearst. William Randolph Hearst was a wealthy American businessman and newspaper publisher. He was an extravagant collector and loved Medieval architecture and artefacts, which he incorporated into the fabric of the castle. For example he was responsible for the installation of the Medieval roof in the Bradenstoke Hall. The roof was originally built in about 1320 and brought from Bradenstoke Priory. He had the inside facings of the walls altered so that the roof would fit. The south wall is part of the original outer curtain wall with windows from the Priory inserted.

History of St Donat’s Church

St Donat’s church lies in a sheltered depression below the castle. It is accessible via a public footpath that runs through the college grounds. Its origins lie in the 12^th century with 14^th/15^th century additions, the earliest part of the structure seen today is the Norman chancel arch dating to the 14^th century. The font is also dated to the Norman period. Along with the castle, the church was restored by Dr Nicholl-Carne in 1878 and the church tower reconstructed in 1907.

The church is dedicated to St Dunwyd, a 6^th century saint said to be a friend of St Cadoc.  It is also home to several Stradling family monuments in the Stradling chapel. The Stradling Family were local landowners, who lived in the nearby castle from the 14^th century until the end of the lineage in 1738.

There is a small graveyard surrounding the church with some interesting tombstones and a medieval cross in the churchyard.

St Donat’s Art Centre

St Donats Arts Centre is a department of UWC Atlantic College. The Arts Centre is housed in the former Medieval Tythe Barn in the grounds of the castle (Now Atlantic College Campus). The building was converted in the early 1970s for the artistic activities of the College. They run a programme of events including music, theatre and exhibitions that are accessible to the general public.

Walking in the Area

Vale Trail 2 A takes in St Donats.

The Wales Coast Path runs along the coast east towards Llantwit Major and west towards Southerndown.

For articles relating to areas near St Donats see see Llantwit Major, Southerndown, Boverton and Marcross