Nottage Court

Cadw's description

Location

On the E edge of the hamlet of Nottage, on rising ground above the valley of Dewiscumbe, set in large walled grounds reached by a drive.

History

Following founding of Margam Abbey, Noge Court Grange was built by monks to administer their agricultural land in Nottage area. Following Dissolution the Grange was bought in 1540 by Sir Rice Mansell. Property acquired by Lougher family 1545 (connections with Tythegston Manor held by Turbervills) who rebuilt it 1570. Passed out of family ownership and returned 1777, inhabited by Knights of Tythegston in early C19, who were also rectors of Newton. Known as Ty Mawr in 1846 but by 1877 as Nottage Court. House restored 1841-6 by Revd Henry Knight, a noted antiquary, in 'antiquarian style' (RCAHMW). Panelling reported as removed 1850 and repanelled 1851. Photograph of 1885 shows scored rendering and a conservatory W. The Dyffryn Llynvi Porthcawl tramroad authorised 1825 passed very close to E of house (section of rails re-set in road near The Farmers Arms) and when converted to steam, a tunnel was built under Nottage village. House further refurbished 1990. The third of the old wells in the area, Fynnon Fawr, is just outside the grounds.

Exterior

Built of stone completely rendered with ashlar dressings, Welsh slate roof, some stone ridge tiles, double pyramidal gable and ridge finials, ridge chimneys to rear. Plan of a roughly E shaped main block and rear wing, thus originally T-shaped but with an additional range added to rear C19. Main frontage of 5 bays with three projecting 3 storey bays with gabled roofs with moulded coping, deepest to left incorporating entrance with Tudor-arched doorway with moulded jambs, square headed hoodmould with plain returned ends, blank shields in spandrels, vertically panelled door with studs. Attic windows have square headed hood moulds to paired lights, first and ground floor a continuous hoodmould to respectively triple and quadruple lights, all now with plain glass though formerly with leaded quarries; sunk chamfered jambs and mullions, no sills. Between the bays similar 2-light windows. E gable end has similar windows, 3 lights to ground floor and 2 to first and attic floors; similar 2-light windows to first and second storeys of W gable end, the former stair wing; other similar windows elsewhere but some may be restored or re-set. E frontage of rear wing is lower, 4 bays, all 3 storeys with some 2-light windows similar to front with sills, others enlarged, three half dormers. Conservatory attached front left. Kitchen wing rear left. Rear inner courtyard bounded by a coach house with cambered headed coach entrance left, Tudor-arched doorway right, pitching door in half dormer above; outer rear courtyard with further buildings, altered.

Interior

Entrance from porch left leads into hall, parlour to right; on first floor great chamber over parlour and another divided over hall. Internally windows have sunk chamfers; chamfered 4 centred doorways with square cut stops; 4 centred arched fireplaces with double hollow chamfers and thistle stops, those on hall and room above with hoodmoulds and those in parlour and great chamber with mantelshelves on stone scroll brackets; beams deeply chamfered and stopped, moulded wallplates and timber panels to bayed ceilings. Rear wing refurbished to accommodate C19 staircase.

Reason for designation

Listed II* as a major C16 house sympathetically restored in C19 retaining its original plan and some of its detail and as the major historic building of the historically important village of Nottage.