Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Hen Eglwys
Margam, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Religious, Ritual and Funerary
- Date of designation
- 12 November 1952
- Locality
- Cwm Bach
- Town
- Port Talbot
- Community
- Margam
- Unitary authority
- Neath Port Talbot
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.56479, -3.73087
- Cadw reference
- 14155
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesNational Library of Scotland
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
Located on the hillside, Graig Fawr, north of Margam Park. Accessed by a footpath which leads SW off the road along Cwm Bach. In a prominent and spectacular position.
History
C14-15 church built for the local population of Margam who were not able to worship in the abbey church. In ruins, with fragments of Decorated and Perpendicular tracery. The E window (and possibly the adjacent S window) are Perpendicular and date to c1470. The W doorway does not sit well with the Decorated window above, but the dressing of the door is missing so it cannot be dated. It is possible that the church dates to 1470 and that the Decorated tracery was brought from the abbey. Also known as Capel Mair and Cryke Chapel.
Exterior
Roofless chapel of Sutton stone with battered plinth and quoins. The E and W ends and S side stand full height, whilst the N side survives up to 1.5m high. Single range with nave and chancel in one. Entrance at W end under segmental arched head (the exterior dressings are missing). Above and offset slightly to the L is a large window opening with shallow pointed head. Some upper level tracery survives, including part of a quatrefoil in the apex and cusps below, suggesting that the window had 2 lights with trefoiled heads.
On the S side is a 2nd doorway R of centre with a shallow pointed-arched head. A large window with similar head is to the R, with 2 lancets to the L. That nearest the W end retains its trefoiled head, carved from a single piece of stone. The E window also has a shallow pointed head, but the surviving upper level tracery is Perpendicular and there were 4 cinquefoil-headed lights. The profile of the top of the N wall suggests that there may have been 2 windows.
Interior
The interior jambs to the openings partially survive, whilst most of the openings have segmental arches of voussoirs. The exceptions are the E window and the adjacent S window which have dressed stone arches to the interior sides. The latter retains some plastering. Piscina to SE with ogee head. Splayed reveals to S lancets. Small recesses in W gable end.
Reason for designation
Listed grade II* for its medieval fabric and tracery detail. A very prominent structure in the landscape at Margam.
Scheduled Ancient Monument GM163 (NEP).
Nearby in the register
- Hen Eglwys Chapel and Defended EnclosureEnclosure - Defensiveunder 1 mi
- Margam Inscribed & Sculptured StonesCrossunder 1 mi
- Stones MuseumEducationunder 1 mi
- Middle LodgeDomesticunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.