NEWTON HOUSE; DYNEVOR CASTLE;PLAS DINEFWR, LLANDEILO

Site Details

NPRN
17603
Map Reference
SN62SW
Grid Reference
SN6143222531
Unitary (Local) Authority
Carmarthenshire
Old County
Carmarthenshire
Community
Llandeilo
Type of Site
MANSION
Broad Class
Domestic
Period
Post Medieval

Site Description

Set amidst extensive parland, grounds and gardens (NPRN 266170) partly designed by Capability Brown 1775-8, Newton House is reached by a pictureseque driveway from an entrance lodge on the Carmarthen Road.

A grand restoration mansion built in 1660-70 for Sir Edward Rice and illustrated in contemporary oil paintings, the house is possibly on the site of a Tudor predessesser, Newton being a borough associated with Dinefwr Castle (NPRN 425). First mentioned in 1297, the early Newton House is described in a survey of 1532 as having a large hall, chapel and tower. The 17th century paintings show the new mansion set amid grand formal gardens and a newly established park, and it seems likely that its construction involved the removal of the borough that was the setting for the earlier house. A three storey house set above vaulted cellars, it had a symmetrical seven-bay facade with a central entrance, and an engraving of 1773 shows small corner turrets and battlements.

C.1720 the interior was extensivley refitted, and in 1856-7 century the exterior was encased in stonework of a Victorian Gothic style, with angle turrets with machicolations and crenellations, a large porch, heraldic sheilds and a quatrefoil pierced parapet amoung the additions to the facade designed by RK Penson of Oswestry. The west elevation is the most decorative with crenellated and corbelled cornices, corbelled balconies, pinnacles, flying buttresses and an elaborate Gothic stone verandah on the ground floor. At this time the formal gardens were laid out around the house (see NPRN 23037-8).

Internally the house largely the early 18th century interiors although the dining room retains the 17th century coffered ceiling enriched with low plaster relief mouldings, and with further 17th century plasterwork and coffered ceiling in the drawing room. The 17th century staircase also survives, although with some 19th century additions, and the entrance hall itself has had a 19th century ribbed and bossed ceiling inserted. The first floor has good survival of 18th century fittings, and the upperfloor has a remarkable survival of a Georgian bed recess. The basement retains vaulted cellars, a strong room and slate shelving for a wine store.
To the south of the house various offices and outbuildings are laid out around two courts, the nearest replacing outbuildings depicted in the seventeenth century (NPRN 404064).

Sources: NMR Site File
Moore in Archaeologia Cambrensis 143 for 1994 (1996), 204-235
CADW Register of Parks & Gardens in Wales: Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion & Pembrokeshire (2002), 68-73
CADW Listed Buildings Database (11098)

RCAHMW 27th July 2009