Llangybi Castle, a fortress of fourteenth-century date (nprn 94896), is located about 4km south of Usk. It was associated with an extensive deer park centred on the castle (and the site of the later, nearby, Llangibby House, 410694). The park contained extensive tracts of woodland bounded by a minor lane and in places by an embanked boundary. It was disparked in 1861.

The park was probably enclosed by cleft oak paling and probably extended as far as the farm called Clawdd-y-parc to the west of the medieval castle, Pen-y-parc to the south-west, and the parish road to the east. It was reduced in extent in the eighteenth century and, near the end of its life, it was reduced to less than l00 acres to the north of the house. The area of the park is agricultural, mainly pasture and woodland.

The drive to the later house (Llangibby House, now demolished) runs west through the park from the park entrance gates and lodge (a late nineteenth-century addition to the estate) on the Usk-Llangibby road. The axis of the drive is continued east from the road to the River Usk by a great Scots pine avenue known as Llangibby Walks. This was originally planted in about 1707 by Sir Hopton Williams and stretches from the road all the way to the River Usk, a distance of about 1.3km. Continual replacement has retained its original line and character.

The site of Llangybi/Llangibby Castle House lies in the former deer park and is associated with survival of a late seventeenth/early eighteenth century garden remains (265981). 

Sources:
Cadw 1994: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales: Gwent, 73-74 (ref: PGW (Gt) 27(MON)).
Williams D, A History of Monmouthshire (1796), p.294, PL.XI.
GGAT Heritage Environment Record, PRN: 03516.

RCAHMW, 20 July 2022