We want to send our warmest congratulations and wholehearted support to the Ruperra Castle Preservation Trust as they mark a remarkable milestone: 400 years of Ruperra Castle (15-17 October 2026).
Built in 1626 by Sir Thomas Morgan of Machen, Ruperra is the only pageant castle in Wales—an extraordinary monument of early 17th-century architectural ambition and cultural heritage. We applaud all the dedicated efforts currently underway by the Trust and local campaigners to save and restore this important castle on its monumental 400th anniversary.
Shared Traditions: Pageantry, Masques, and Renaissance Drama
The pageant traditions and courtly revels being celebrated at Ruperra—such as the planned courtly dancing, talks on Tudor/Jacobean pageants, and discussions of courtier life—resonate deeply with us here at Soulton Hall. Soulton shares in this exact tradition. From Sir Rowland Hill’s 16th-century London pageants and civic drama to Soulton’s own architectural identity as a “theatre of memory”—conceived around Renaissance performance, symbolic geometry, and links to early drama and masques—both Soulton and Ruperra represent an era when architecture was built as a stage for courtly ideas, philosophical play, and public spectacle.
Ruperra Castle in 2026 – Mac Edmunds – Own work – Creative Commons
Expert Heritage Representation & The Lulworth Connection
While we are sorry that we cannot be there in person at Bedwas Workmen’s Hall for the anniversary weekend, we are delighted to know that our expert heritage consultants, Byrga Geniht (led by James D. Wenn and James Syrett), will gather alongside the impressive line-up of speakers and scholars. We particularly want to draw attention to the opening lecture on Thursday 15th October by James Weld on Lulworth Castle—Ruperra’s “twin” pageant castle in Dorset. The story of Lulworth’s restoration and its shared lineage with Ruperra highlights the vital importance of protecting these rare 17th-century pageant buildings.
Whitehall Lecture: Garnet as Emblem of Goodness
To mark this anniversary and celebrate these shared themes, we are embedding James D. Wenn’s Whitehall lecture, “Garnet as Emblem of Goodness | Philosophical Architecture from Henry III to George III”. In this talk, James explores how sacred geometry—specifically the rhombic dodecahedron—and early Renaissance philosophy were encoded into the design of Britain’s most intriguing buildings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17AugustWhitehallLecture (Video embedded above)
This work forms a vital part of the rich Anglo-Welsh heritage of clever buildings—structures packed with deep humanistic meaning, salient geometry, and immense cultural freight. We applaud everyone involved in the 400th-anniversary celebrations and encourage our community to support the ongoing fight to save Ruperra Castle!
