Thomas Morgan built Ruperra Castle when the ideas of the European Renaissance, promoted by the new profession of architect, had already swept into England. He thus put Wales on the European architectural map. The great English Elizabethan and Jacobean houses like Woolaton, Hardwicke Hall and Lulworth in England are in a special class and the design of Ruperra had a sophistication not previously seen in Wales. The houses of the Welsh gentry in Wales at this time were late medieval semi-fortified manor houses to all

intents and purposes. However the Welsh new rich who had flocked to the court of the Tudors wanted to emulate the great English landed gentry. Unlike some, Thomas Morgan built his great house in Wales. The architect's name unfortunately is unknown.

Houses no longer looked inwards to a courtyard in the Tudor style but out onto the beautiful parklands. Private rooms no longer opened off one another and the fireplaces were now placed centrally instead of around the outside wall.