Chapel of St Roque

Cadw's description

Location

On Chapel Hill in the pleasure grounds on the N side of Merthyr Mawr House.

History

The siting of the chapel inside an Iron Age fort suggests an early foundation. The present building is late C15 with some C19 or later repairs undertaken after its acquisition by Sir John Nicholl. Nicholl purchased the Merthyr Mawr Estate in 1804 and planned a new country residence away from the old manor house, Merthyr Mawr Hall (now the site of Home Farm). A new site was chosen below Chapel Hill which overlooks the Ogmore valley. Merthyr Mawr House was built in the period 1806-9 and the park and gardens were laid out later, with a garden on the S and W of the house, a kitchen garden to the E and wooded pleasure grounds to the N on Chapel Hill and to the SW. C19 repairs to the chapel are probably contemporary with its incorporation into the pleasure grounds. At approximately the same time 2 C11 inscribed stones were brought from nearby and set up outside the chapel at the suggestion of Iolo Morgannwg. They were moved inside the chapel C20.

Exterior

A small chapel in Tudor-Gothic style, now ruinous and roofless Rubble stone walls are partly obscured by vegetation. In the S wall is a doorway with a Tudor head renewed C19, and a single window to its R with a segmental rere-arch. The W wall has a gabled bellcote with a bell opening under a cusped head. The E window is 2-light, with a renewed mullion and fragments of original cinquefoil heads. To the R of the window is a small former piscina.

Inside the chapel are 2 C11 inscribed stones (Scheduled Ancient Monument GM 026).

Reason for designation

Included for group value with Merthyr Mawr House and other associated listed items in the gardens and pleasure grounds.

Scheduled Ancient Monument Gm 247.