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HistoryThe Margam Estate (Bronze / Iron Age - Present) |
Margam History
Background
There is evidence of over 4000 years of continuous human habitation with a heritage attraction of considerable distinction at Margam.
The Margam Estate covers around 850 acres and is situated 2 miles east of Port Talbot on the narrow coastal plain set on the southern slopes of
Mynydd Margam, a largely forested mountain rising to a height of 349 AOD. It's history can be traced back to prehistoric times with Bronze & Iron Age
relics together with evidence of Roman and Celtic occupation within the immediate area.
A place of significant religious importance, the Norman Abbey founded in the mid 12th century, was until its dissolution at the hands of
Henry VIII, a major religious centre in South Wales. Nowadays, the remains of the Abbey are extensive along with its runied Chapter House.
Following the dissolution of the Abbey, successive owners built and rebuilt their houses on the Abbey site. The surviving buildings form a
unique record of its historical & architectural development. The late 18th century saw considerable redevelopment take place with the area
laid out on classical lines as parkland together with the building of an Orangery which is one of the largest and most outstanding buildings of its
kind in the country.
The early 19th century saw further enhancement with the building of Margam Castle; this Tudor-style Mansion remained in use until the end of World War II.
The Estate fell into neglect and was eventually purchased by local Government and opened to the public in 1977 for the public to enjoy the countryside,
gardens and heritage; for environmental education & to use the facilities socially.
TIMELINE OF THE MARGAM ESTATE
Bronze / Iron Ages & Roman Era
The Monastic Era (1147-1536)
Year |
Event |
1147 |
Cistercian Abbey of the Mother House Clairvaux at Margam was founded by Robert, Earl of Gloucester. |
1200 |
12-sided Chapter House built - Cistercian monks hunt wild deer & mine coal. |
1349 |
Black Death reaches Margam with many deaths. |
c.1470 |
Capel Mair/Hen Eglwys (Cryke Chapel) established to serve needs of local peasants/yeoman who didn't have right to worship in Abbey itself. |
1536 |
9 Monks left at Abbey after its dissolution by King Henry VIII. |
The Mansel Era (1536-1750)
Year |
Event |
1537 |
Dissolution of monastic establishment by King Henry VIII |
1540 |
Abbey bought by Sir Rice Mansel (1487-1559) of Oxwich Castle, Gower Peninsular & Old Beaupre, Vale of Glamorgan.
Tudor mansion built out of & on former monastic ranges of Abbey with the Abbey's stone buildings adapted, elaborated & extended over 200 years.
The house is remodelled in late 16th century by Sir Thomas Mansel.
|
1611 |
Sir Thomas Mansel becaomes a Baronet when King James I creates hereditary order. |
1661 |
1st mention of gardens when accounts show John Thomas as a gardener; reference made various walls & gardens. |
1711 |
Sir Thomas Mansel (previously Controller of Household of Queen Anne) was elevated to peerage as Baron Mansel of Margam. |
1723 |
Lord Thomas Mansel dies. |
1727 |
Joseph Kirkman (gardner) drew up catelogue of greenhouse plants which is earliest detailed list of orange trees at Margam.
An earlier reference being a 1711 book of household accounts. |
Talbot Era (1750-1941)
Year |
Event |
1750 |
4th & last Baron, Bussy Mansel dies without a male heir. The title becomes extinct & Margam, along with Oxwich & Penrice
passed through marriage into the Talbot family to the Reverend Thomas Talbot of Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire.
Margam eventually passed to his son, Thomas Mansel Talbot. |
1768 |
Thomas Mansel Talbot sets out on Grand Tour of the Continent returning home in 1772 to the Penrice Estate in the Gower. |
1786 |
Construction of the Orangery begins to the design of Anthony Keck. |
1792 |
Viscount Torrington reports that the Chapter House now houses a stag, it's roof collapses in 1799. |
1793 |
Completion of Orangery.
Estate accounts record final demolition of dilapitated Tudor House by Thomas Mansel Talbot who now resides at Penrice. When visiting Margam
the family lodged at Margam Cottage on outskirts of Estate. |
1794 |
Gardens were fenced to keep out the deer and entrance of stone piers with rustic gates were made. |
1800 |
The Citrus House was erected to house some of the famous citrus tree collections. |
1802 |
Lord Nelson (Travelling through South Wales with Sir William & Lady Hamilton) visited the Orangery. |
1814 |
Estate Map shows Talbot achieved his aim of creating a park with illustrations called 'Great', 'Little' and 'Upper' parks. |
1820's |
Plans to build a new house at Margam were commissioned by Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803-90). |
1830 |
Work commences on construction of Margam Castle being designed by Thomas Hopper (1776-1856).
Edward Haycock (1790-1870) was supervisory architect & was also responsible for interior/exterior works on the house, stables, terraces
& lodges - Talbot took a keen interest in the works and the expenses. |
1837 |
Historic stone facade attributed to Inigo Jones (Temple of Four Seasons) is re-erected fronting Ivy Cottage.
(This is all that remains of this 17th century banqueting house).
The West Driveway (including the bridge at the north end of fishpond lake) was built. |
1840 |
Construction of Castle complete and works to stable & courtyards in progress.
Main driveway from the east constructed by C.R.M. Talbot.
Construction of East Lodges, together with Middle Lodge & the West Lodge commenced (designed by Edward Haycock). |
1841 |
Marshy valley to the north of the gardens was damned to form present fishpond lake; the water was used to supply the fountains
on the Orangery Terrace. The west end of the park was extended to include much of pubic road & village of Margam.
The new model village of Groes was built - which was designed by Haycock. |
1852 |
Construction of the Orangery Terrace.
Henry Fox Talbot (Photographer Pioneer) & frequent visitor to Margam at this time carried out several early experiments
in grounds of Margam Castle taking the earliest photographic views of the mansion. |
1876 |
The only son of Christopher R.M. Talbot (Theodore) dies as a result of a riding accident. |
1881 |
The Prince & Princess of Wales (later Edward VII & Queen Alexandra) visited Margam on Monday 17 October 1881. The couple stayed
for lunch after which the Princess planted a tree in the Orangery gardens. |
1890 |
Margam was inherited by Emily Charlotte Talbot.
The Vine House is built & most of greenhouses replaced with new ones by Messenger & Co of Loughborough.
The Engine House was built. |
1891 |
Electricty is introduced into the Castle. |
1892 |
At the Castle, a Billiards Room was built over a small inner courtyard.
Twyn-y-Hydd House (with seperate dressed stone rusticated
piered entrance) was built as a home for Emily Charlotte Talbot's agent, Edward Knox. |
1902 |
A bamboo garden is established below the lake & a Pergola introduced to the south western part of the Orangery garden by
Emily Charlotte Talbot. |
1918 |
Emily Charlotte Talbot dies and Margam was left in trust to her great nephew, John Theodore Talbot Fletcher,
(a minor) - his father was Captain Andrew Mansel Talbot Fletcher.
Rhododendrons and Azaleas were planted at Margam. |
1926 |
New Pond was created by Captain Fletcher to relieve unemployment and improve the view from the house. |
1930 |
Captain Fletcher converts the old stable block into a squash court & garage and creates a tennis court to the south east
of the Castle. |
War Years / Sir David Evans-Bevan
Year |
Event |
1941 |
World War II - The billeting of troops at Margam Castle. (Fletcher & family were still in residence)
Trustees of Margam Estate decide to sell the Estate and Captain & Mrs Fletcher return to Saltoun Hall, East Lothian, Scotland.
Contents of House were auctioned by Christies of London in a 4-day sale between 27th & 30th October 1941.
The Castle continued with occupation of both British & American troops during the War Years. |
1942 |
Estate acquired by Mr D.M. (later Sir David) Evans-Bevan, owner of Vale of Neath Brewery.
At the end of the War (following de-requisitioning) the Castle remained empty, the family residing in Twyn yr Hydd. The Castle was vandalised & fell into decay. |
1950's |
Sir David Evans-Bevan commissions landscape designer Ralph Hancock to redesign the gardens of Twyn yr Hydd. |
The County Council Years
Year |
Event |
1973 |
The Estate acquired by the Glamorgan County Council. |
1974 |
The Estate passes to West Glamorgan County Council on local government re-organisation. A programme of refurbishment is made available. |
1977 |
Restored Orangery opened by HM Queen Elizabeth II during her Silver Jubliee visit in June 1977.
Modern entrances constructed to west off A48 & to south of the east lodges.
Archaelogical dig of kitchen garden (to rear of Citrus House) reveals footings of cottages & the Corner House Inn of the old village of Margam as
well as foundations of the medieval complex.
On Thursday 04 August at 10am a fire within the Castle destroys the roof and its interior. |
1978 |
Glamorgan Cattle brought to Estate from Sussex. |
1981 |
On 29 July (A spray of orange blossom from Margam Park) is affixed to the carriage for the wedding of HRH the Prince of Wales
and Lady Diana Spencer. |
1982 |
North Wing of the Castle is re-roofed together with stabilisation of structure of south & west wings. |
1983 |
1st stage of rescue plan for the Castle commenced & electricity re-introduced for 2nd time in it's history. |
1985 |
Park staff move into offices in 1st floor of North Wing. First Sculpture Park in Wales established & Internationally
famous sculptors such as Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth & Elizabeth Frink exhibited. |
1986 |
Repair works to Chapter House & Vestibule executed. |
1987 |
A rare daguerreotype of the Castle from the south east taken by C.R.M. Talbot's great friend, the
Reverend Calvert Jones of Swansea is put up for sale by Talbot's descendants (sells at Christies to an American Gallery).
This unique picture (earliest view of Castle & one of 1st photographs taken in Wales) was saved by a refusal of an export licence & purchased
by the National Library of Wales. |
1995 |
Service held on 01 March by the Bishop of Llandaff to commemorate restoration work to date. |
1996 |
After local government re-organisation, West Glamorgan County Council ceased to exist - Margam Park becomes repsonsibility
of newly created Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. |
1999 |
Refurbishment of North Wing of Castle takes place for educational use by the Field Studies Council.
The Citrus House becomes home to major collection of Fushia. |
The 21st Century
Margam Park continues in its significant moderisation plans and is now a thriving Country Park.
Further updates to timeline will continue...
Explore The Margam Estate in depth - See below for more details...
Source: Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
EXPLORE KENFIG - THE COMPLETE HISTORY (E-RESOURCE)History of Kenfig & surrounding areas - Prehistory to the Present Day |
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HISTORY - GENERALHISTORY - GENERAL - IN-DEPTHHISTORY - GENERAL - THE LAND |
KENFIG - THROUGH THE AGESKENFIG TIMELINE C.1147-1886PICTORIAL HISTORY |
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EXPLORE THE MARGAM ESTATE IN DEPTH
- Bronze / Iron Age & Roman Era
- The Monastic Era
- The Mansel Era
- Talbot Era
- War Years / Sir David Evans-Bevan
- Present
Bronze / Iron Age & Roman Era
Coming soon...
The Monastic Era (1147-1536)
Coming soon...
The Mansel Era (1536-1750)
Coming soon...
Talbot Era (1750-1941)
Coming soon...
War Years / Sir David Evans-Bevan
Coming soon...
Present - The County Council Years
Coming soon...
Online ResourcesFurther Info
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AcknowledgementsBibliography
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