The kitchen garden at St Donat’s Castle parkland estate NPRNs 301676; 700317), in the Vale of Glamorgan, is located on the floor of the Llys Weirydd valley, to the north of the castle. It lies in a part of the valley called Perllan (orchard) yr Afal, indicating that the garden’s orchard origins and is shown as such on the 1843 tithe map. The garden has continued partly to be used as such to this day. The 1862 estate map shows the area as open, with no buildings, and marked ‘gardens’ (in pencil). By 1877 it had become a kitchen garden, the 25 in. Ordnance Survey map showing it divided into many compartments by crossing paths, though still without glasshouses.

Located in woodland, the garden is a long, rectangular area, bounded on the west by a partly derelict wall about 4m high, on the south by a steep bank down to the valley bottom, and on the north by a whitewashed stone wall about 4m high. The east side of the garden is bounded by a low scarp, above which is a disused track running the length of the gardens and giving access from the drive. The south end of the garden is planted with rows of fruit trees. A central north-south path is flanked by some old trees and a row of three 2.2m high piers on its west, the base of another on its east, and further broken pieces scattered down the slope bounding the garden. Climbing roses growing next to them suggest there were once arches between them to support climbers. A small modern glasshouse on a brick base is situated nearby and there are some small gardened plots. A derelict glasshouse, dating to the 1920s or 1930s, runs the full length of the north wall. It stands on a low stone wall with brick infilling at intervals suggesting former vine holes. A concrete paved path runs along the foot of the outer wall and at the east end are boiler pipes. The glasshouse remains in productive use. To its east is a raised area with single-storey bothies.
The remainder of the garden is grassed over, with a few planted fruit trees.

Source:
Cadw 2000: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales, Glamorgan, 278-86 (ref: PGW(Gm)30(GLA)).

RCAHMW, 27 June 2022