The early lords of Cadoxton, or “West Barry” as it was known, were the de Sumeri family of Dinas Powys. They held the large lordship which extended from Gilston to St. Hilary across to St. Fagans and down to Penarth which included the parishes of Barry, Merthyr Dyfan, Cadoxton, and Sully.
The de Sumeri family sub-enfeoffed the manor of Cadoxton to the Mitdehorguills about 1186-1191, when Milisant Mitdehorguill married Adam de Sumeri, whose stronghold was in Dinas Powys which was one of the earliest stone built castles in Glamorgan.
It is therefore a possibility that the Mitdehorguills chose this site for its defensive position and began to build a fortified manor house, which may have passed to the de Barry or de Sully families by marriage.
As regards to the early history of The Court this is very scant and it is not until the Andrew family arrive in the early 15th century that any documentary evidence survives.
During the late fourteenth and early fifteenth century the manor was in the possession of the Andrew family, they totally re-modelled the site removing sections of the old curtain wall and replacing it with half-timbered buildings, all of which were destroyed during the rebellion lead by Owain Glyndwr in 1401. During this turbulent period the Andrew family fled to their lands in Somerset till the rebellion ran out of steam, and Owain Glyndwr disappeared into obscurity about 1408.
It was after this period that the Andrew family returned and rebuilt the former manor house replacing it with a fine mansion house. The Court remained in the possession of the Andrew family until the last of the male line, William Andrew, died in 1683. It then fragmented between different families.
The court has had a long and sometime turbulent history from its early beginnings in the 12th century to a more peaceful and prosperous new beginning in the 21st century, in this long period of time it has changed hands many times, but the appearance of The Court has not changed since it was rebuilt in 1873, now under new ownership the grounds will eventually be transformed, and through archaeological excavation with the owner’s permission we will know and understand a lot more about one of the most important medieval sites in the area.