Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Harbour Watch-Tower
Margam Moors, Neath Port Talbot, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Maritime
- Date of designation
- 31 March 2000
- Locality
- Margam Moors
- Town
- Port Talbot
- Community
- Margam Moors
- Unitary authority
- Neath Port Talbot
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 51.58232, -3.80339
- Cadw reference
- 23155
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 LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
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
On the S side of the mouth of the River Afan, just to the W of the Harbour Master's Office.
History
Probably mid C19. The watch-tower pre-dates the major redevelopment of the docks by the Port Talbot Railway & Docks Company from 1894-8.
Exterior
Two-storey octagonal watch-tower with battlemented parapets. Constructed of stone, the lower storey of coursed rubble with quoins, the upper storey of dressed stone. The parapets consist of a moulded coping supporting dressed crenellations at the angles. The front faces W towards the sea and contains a doorway with segmental head of voussoirs and a wooden door frame. Window opening above with similar head, and 2 matching windows to the flanking faces. Two further upper storey windows to S and NE faces, tall and rectangular with flat heads. The door and glazing do not survive.
Interior
Four cast iron I-section beams formerly supported a low floor between the ground and upper storeys. Further cast iron beams support the ceiling above the upper floor. To the N side at ground level is a circular hole in the wall lined in cast iron, possibly for a telescope. Blocking in wall above, beneath a cast iron lintel, possible for a fireplace?
Reason for designation
Listed as the well preserved shell of a C19 harbour watch-tower, a prominent feature in the coastal landscape, and of historic interest.
Nearby in the register
- Plate-Girder BridgeTransportunder 1 mi
- Plate-Girder BridgeTransportunder 1 mi
- Former Harbour HouseMaritimeunder 1 mi
- War MemorialCommemorativeunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.