The Orangery

A Historic Grade I Listed Orangery

Built by 1790, the Orangery was designed to house the Talbot family’s large collection of citrus trees. By the mid‑1700s, the collection included around one hundred trees. Thomas Mansel Talbot created the current 327‑foot building to keep the full collection protected through winter and displayed in the gardens during the summer months.

Architecture 

The Orangery was designed for function as well as beauty, with 27 tall south‑facing windows to maximise light, fireplaces built into the rear wall, and flues to circulate warm air. Its long façade avoids looking plain thanks to carefully detailed stonework, sculptured urns and decorative pavilions at each end. The stone was quarried locally, and the building was constructed between 1786 and 1790 by skilled craftsmen working under master mason William Gubbings.

Restoration

When Glamorgan County Council purchased the estate in 1973, the Orangery was in ruins. Restoration began soon after and was completed in 1977. The building was formally reopened by Her Majesty The Queen during her Silver Jubilee Year.

A Venue for Every Occasion

Today, the Orangery is one of South Wales’ most elegant event spaces. Set within historic gardens and framed by the monastery ruins and Margam Castle, it offers a unique backdrop for:

• Weddings
• Conferences
• Concerts
• Private functions