Candleston Castle Candleston Castle is a 14th - century fortified manor house , in ruins since the 19th century . It is southwest of Merthyr Mawr , former Glamorgan , Wales , and just northwest of Ogmore Castle , separated by the River Ogmore . Candleston ' s original long and narrow rectangular structure lay across the western end of a low narrow promontory , suggesting a defensive position . The castle is believed to be named after the Norman family of Cantilupe , thought to be its first feudal tenants . Geography . The ruins of Candleston , which had been part of a medieval settlement , stand on the Merthyr Mawr Sand Dunes , on the edge of the Merthyr Mawr Warren . They are east of Porthcawl off of Swansea Bay . History . 12th - 14th centuries . In the 12th century , Candleston manor passed to the St Quintin lords of Talyfan and Llanbleddian ; The Cantilupe family are considered Candleston ' s first tenants . Although there are no records to show that the de Cantilupes were at the site in the 12th century , it is believed that the de Cantilupe family were the original tenants and that the name Candleston is derived from their name , variously spelled Cantulupo , Cantilupo , Cantelo . In 1596 it was called Cantelowstowne and in 1635 Cantloston . It was Tregantlow in Welsh , Tref or Tre meaning town . Candleston Castle , a fortified manor , was built in the 14th century . An enclosure , in the shape of a D , surrounded the structure . The late - medieval manor may have been constructed on the site of a previous building , based upon the presence of remnants of an earlier wall . The castle may have been built by Robert de Canteilupe III , who owned one ploughland at Candleston in 1320 according to the Despenser Survey of Glamorgan of that year . Robert III , who is not recorded after 1320 , may have been succeeded by John de Cantilupe , who may have been the Abbot of Margam in 1315 . Robert de Cantilupe III ' s daughter Joan , heiress of Candleston , married Sir William Horton of Tregwynt , Pembrokeshire . Sands from the dunes shifted starting in the late 14th century and encroached on nearby Kenfig Castle , resulting in its evacuation . The Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments in Wales reported that Candleston ' s " elevated position was just sufficient to save it from the encroaching sand dunes on the northern fringe of the Merthyr Mawr Warren , which entirely surrounded the promontory and formed a relatively stable margin close to the southern wall of the castle . " 15th - 19th centuries . Candleston passed through Joan Cantilupe Horton and Sir William Horton ' s son Jenkin , who may not have resided at Candleston , to Jenkin ' s daughter Jennet or Janet . The manor then went to the Cradocks when Janet married Richard Cradock about 1468 . Nicholas Horton briefly resided at Candleston and paid a small quit rent in 1411 for what is believed to be Candleston to the lord of Merthyr Mawr . Joan Robert , reported to be the daughter of Margaret Cantilupe , married John Eyre . In 1412 and 1429 , Eyre is recorded as Candleston ' s landholder . Janet Horton and Richard Cradock received Candleston , possibly because the Eyres did not have children or due to the nature of their tenure . Janet and Richard Cradock ' s son , Sir Mathew Cradock ( about 1468 - 1531 ) inherited the property . During his career , he was steward of Gower , Chancellor of Glamorgan and constable for life of the Kenfig and Caerphilly castles . In the late 15th century the manor was refurbished and modified ; It is believed that Mathew Cradock was responsible for the construction . His only child , Margaret , was heiress of the manor . Sir Richard Herbert married Margaret . He was from Ewyas , Hereford . About 1500 alternations were made to the Hall range . It had a four - centred , local green sandstone ogee arch , pointed and chamfer ed arch tower , parapet corbel ling of the roofs , and an " impressive perpendicular chimneypiece " . George Herbert of Swansea inherited Candleston from Margaret and Sir Richard Herbert . Mathew Herbert , George ' s son then held Candleston . Brothers , grandsons of Sir George Herbert , had the manor next . First , Sir William Herbert had the manor in 1598 , then Sir John Herbert inherited the manor after his brother ' s death in 1609 . Sir John died in 1617 and Mary , his daughter and heiress , married Sir William Doddington . Robert Greville , 4th Baron Brooke of Warwick married Doddington ' s granddaughter . His brother inherited the property upon his death in 1676 . Francis Greville , great - grandson of the brother , was Earl of Warwick and 8th Baron Brook . The manor was held by the Grevilles , visited only occasionally , made only minor modifications , and sold to the Franklen family in the 18th century . Between 1806 and 1808 , Sir John Nicholl resided at the manor while his manor was built . Candleston Castle was sold by Richard Franklen to Nichol in 1830 , when it was said to have included a drawing room , dining room , breakfast rooms , four bedrooms , a coach house . It was evacuated in the 19th century , after having operated as a farm house . In the early 19th century modifications included construction of a stable , the castle was crenellated for ornamental purposes and a defensive tower was built . The stepped base of a Calvary cross , of unreported date , with the fallen cross itself lying alongside , was found near the windmill uncovered by sand in 1823 . 20th - 21st centuries . In the 21st century , the castle is an " ivy covered ruin " . Wildfowl , butterflies , moths , autumn gentian , violets and orchids are seen in the area . The area around the castle is woodland and farm land . The nearby Merthyr Mawr dunes are among northwestern Europe ' s " highest and most voluminous " sand dunes , and it is the " second highest mobile sand dune system in Europe . " The dunes west of Candleston Castle and above Ordnance Datum are more than high and are now fairly stabilized .