Here you can get a wonderful introduction to the collection of incredible interiors at Cardiff Castle.

Created by the third Marquess of Bute in collaboration with the architect, William Burges, little expense was spared in transforming the Castle in to a Welsh Victorian Camelot.

This room is located in the Guest Tower, which was designed by William Burges and built from 1874, the decoration of the Nursery was completed in 1879.
Lord and Lady Bute had four children, Margaret, John, Ninian and Colum, and this room was used as a day nursery and schoolroom.

The Bute family only spent about six weeks a year at Cardiff Castle, but the children all loved
coming to such an ancient and romantic place. The Bute children had a nurse, a governess and two nursery maids to look after them. The maids were Welsh and French and taught the children to speak both languages.

The decoration is appropriate for a nursery and the wall tiles show a processional frieze depicting heroes and heroines from Children’s literature. The tiles were painted by the artist Horatio Lonsdale, who worked for Lord Bute for many years.

The chimneypiece is made of painted stone and the carving is by the London sculptor Thomas Nicholls, who was one of William Burges’ favourite craftsmen. It represents the figure of ‘Fame’. Beneath, Fame’s herald holds two trumpets – one gold, one black, representing ‘great renown’ or ‘ill fame.’

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