King of the castle (From Free Press Series)

King of the castle

JONATHAN Powell is no stranger to Free Press readers with his quirky take on TV's weekly diet of Richard and Judy and Neighbours.

Few though will know what a dab hand he is when it comes to writing about Monmouthshire's majestic castles.

In fact when it comes to waxing about ancient strongholds Jonathan really is the King of the Castle.

"I have always had an interest in castles right from the word go," says Jonathan who'll be giving readers an insight into each of Monmouthshire's castles in the Free Press over the next few weeks.

"As well as writing about them I also sketch the castles too. I'll have done 32 castles by December from around South, Mid and West Wales.

"The idea is to release a book next year. The working title is 'Castle Connoisseur' and all the profits from its sale will go to the Imperial Cancer Research charity. My grandad died of cancer and I'm a firm believer that it is a giant that has to be slayed."

Jonathan is best known for his work as a comedy writer on the Fast Show. In the daytime though he pays his bills working as an auditor. Coincidentally it was while driving to work one day that he was inspired to take the plunge into writing about castles.

"I do a lot of driving in my day job as an auditor and used to pass Raglan Castle a lot.

"The next time you drive past take a look at it and strip away all the houses and roads and what you are left with is a castle in a sea of open ground just like it used to be. That's the best way to conjure up an image of medieval life there.

"It's amazing to think you have this living history on your doorstep. There is nothing on earth structure-wise like them.

"I just wanted to learn more about them so started researching. I have a particular soft spot for Raglan. I think that's because, like many other castles, it was built to defend such a disputed territory all those years ago. Monmouthshire was always in the thick of it.

"Personally I think castles are the link between the past and the present. You will not find a stronger link between yesterday and today. It is an indelible link," says the 36-year-old.

Jonathan, who lives in St Helens Close in Abergavenny, did hit a few brick walls when tracing the history of the county's Norman relics, particularly when agreeing over historic dates.

"Although there may be some debate over the dates, there does not seem to be a definitive guide to actually go by. If you show me a book with one date in, I'll be able to show you one with a completely different one in. In essence the facts are correct, but the dates are open to interpretation," he explains.

After travelling around most of the country sketching and taking notes, Jonathan is certain which castle he'd like to call his own.

"If I could live in any castle it would be Raglan though I'd have to modernise it a bit!"

Jonathan's guide to Monmouthshire's castles begins next week only in the Free Press.