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Origins

Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803-1890), formulated plans for a grandiose new mansion.

Glimpses of Margam Life 1830 - 1918

The Origins

In August 1536 the great Cistercian abbey of Margam, once the richest monastic establishment in Wales, was dissolved by the Crown visitors of  Henry VIII. Much of the former monastic property was acquired by Sir Rice Mansel (1487-1559), a member of one of the foremost country families, with extensive estates in Gower, including Penrice and Oxwich Castles, a man active in the royal service and a vice - admiral in the navy. Masel first leased, and in 1540 purchased, the claustral buildings ad extensive tracts of monastic land, and in the three transactions secured most of the abbey's former estates.

Margam now replaced Oxwich as the Mansels Chief residence. The house was based on the domestic ranges of the abbey, added to in a variety of styles and successive generations, so that eventually Medieval, Tudor and seventeenth century classical elements contributed to a rambling house 175 meters long, with formal pleasure gardens, orchards and an extensive deer park. Thomas, grandson of Sir Rice Mansel, was elevated to the peerage and was created Baron Mansel by Queen Anne, to whom he had been controller of the household. The title, held by only four members of the family, became extinct in 1750 with the death of Bussey Mansel, fourth and last Lord Mansel.

The great estates of Margam and Penrice now passed to the Rev. Thomas Talbot of Lacock Abbey in Wiltshire, second son of John Ivory Talbot and Mary Mansel, daughter of the first Lord Mansel. He showed little interest in his Welsh holding and following his death in 1758 the estate was held in trust for his son Thomas Mansel Talbot (1747-1813), who shortly after attaining his majority embarked on the 'Grand Tour', which was considered an essential part of a young gentleman's education. Upon his return T.M Talbot focussed attention on Penrice, building a villa there in the classical style (1773-1779).

Over the years, the Margam estate had been neglected; the house was old fashioned and it's gardens overgrown. T.M Talbot, who played little part in public life and virtually none in local affairs, demolished the historic house of his Mansel ancestors; a partial clearance of 1786 allowed construction of the magnificent Georgian orangery (1787 -1790) designed, as was Talbots villa at Penrice by Anthony Keck. The last vestiges of the Mansel house were cleared by 1793, leaving only small portions of the Abbey buildings and Margams unique chapter house.

Almost 40 years later, his son, Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot (1803-1890), formulated plans for a grandiose new mansion. He developed and revitalised the Margam estate, work continued by his daughter Emily charlotte, in a manner befitting this ancient family seat.

C.R.M Talbot spent his early years at Penrice, being sent to Harrow School in 1814; this was followed by a period of private tutorship under a Mr Lipscomb of London before he entered Oriel College, oxford, in 1820. A brilliant mathematician, he graduated in 1824 with a First Class degree. He translated sir Isaac Newton's 'Enumeration in lines of the 3rd order' from the Latin, adding notes and examples; it was published in 1860 and regarded as a standard work on the law of curvatures. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1831, and a year earlier had become Member of Parliament for Glamorgan, claiming the seat vacated by his stepfather, sir Christopher Cole.

Work began on clearing the site for the new mansion in 1827, the road from Llangynwyyd to Taibach being diverted in 1829 to avoid crossing the park. At the outset Talbot determined to stop indulgences which employees and tenants considered a right, especially that allowing pigs to root about in the 'Great Wood'. The tenants from a radius of 3 to 4 miles availed themselves of the supposed privilege, the pigs ranging the ground and being partly responsible for the scarcity of young trees. In addition, Crook the gardener was prohibited from growing potatoes in the nursey ground, and Talbot's team of labourers were restricted from helping all and sundry, although aid to poor labourers could continue.

The 1830'3 were to witness the realisation of the young squires dream, with the building of the new family seat in a prominent position overlooking the park at the foot of the wooded Iron Age hillfort of Mynydd y Castell. Much material for the house came from the estate, stone from Pyle quarry, timber from the local hills and bricks from a kiln specially build at Margam. Talbot chose as his architect Thomas hopper (1776-1865), best known for his work at Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, at Carlton house, London (for the prince Regent later George IV), and at Windsor Castle. The construction of the Tudor - Gothic edifice was controlled, supervised and embellished by the Shresbury architect Edward Haycock, and it's eventual design reflected the whims and fancies of its owner, the exterior bearing numerous heraldic shields and carved faces relating to the history of Margam and the Mansel-Talbot families.

When visiting Margam during its construction, Talbot stayed at Margam Cottage, an unpretentious dwelling on the perimeter of the Park. In 1835 he married Lady Charlotte Butler (1809-1846) , daughter of the first Earl of Glengall, at Cahir House, County Tipperary, the service being conducted by his close friend and associate the Rev Calvert Jones. On one of her first visits to Margam Cottage, Lady Charlotte is recorded as having ridden the 30 miles from Penrice in torrential rain; literally drenched, her luggage not yet arrives, she had to resort to wearing one of the maid's garments.

By the Spring of 1836, the fires were first lit in the 'Great House'. The 'coccle' a central heating system based on hot air was in operation and pipes laid to convey water. Margam now replaced Penrice as the Talbots' principal residence.Work continued on the house and outbuildings for a number of years. in 1841 joists were placed in the library, the muniment room and passage; walls were painted, carpets laid, and carpenters were making windows for the laundry. In the Spring of 1844, with Francis Bray carving old oak for the entrance hall, furniture and picture frames, and Daniel Jackson, a mason from Cumberland, cleaning, polishing and working marble, Talbots house, with its mock battlements turrets, pinnacles and majestic central octagonal tower, was complete, at a cost in excess of £50 000.

The main entrance was on the north, with terraces to the south and west, broad flight of steps, and a gravelled walkway leading to the 'pleasure grounds'. The interior decoration rivalled that of the impressive exterior, the main family rooms including the library, drawing, dining, morning and business or muniment rooms, many decorated with carves woodwork, panelling, guilded plasterwork, stained glass windows and marble fireplace, the whole dominated by the central staircase tower. A number of bedrooms were decorated in the styles particularly fashionable at the period- these were the Chinese, Tapestry, Yellow and Green bedrooms. The sale catalogue of 1941 listed 41 bed and dressing rooms and 9 bathrooms.

The domestic offices comprised a vast kitchen, scullery, pantries, stillroom, housekeepers room, stewards room, housemaids sitting room, storerooms, butlers pantry, plate safe and extensive cellars. Adjoining the house, round and paved courtyard were the brewery, laundry and bakehouse, while the castle yard contained the gun room, harness room, coach houses and stables.

Land agents, gamekeepers, gardeners, woodman, butler, housekeepers and other household servants were essential to maintain the estate in good order and keep life flowing smoothly; and these officials and employees frequently had to be housed, clothed and fed, in many instances giving the estate a lifetime's service.

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