Hen Eglwys, Margam, Neath Port Talbot

Entry Name: Hen Eglwys

Listing Date: 12 November 1952

Last Amended: 25 April 2000

Grade: II*

Source: Cadw

Source ID: 14155

Building Class: Religious, Ritual and Funerary

Also known as: Capel Mair
Cryke Chapel

ID on this website: 300014155

Location: Located on the hillside, Graig Fawr, north of Margam Park. Accessed by a footpath which leads SW off the road along Cwm Bach. In a prominent and spectacular position.

County: Neath Port Talbot

Town: Port Talbot

Community: Margam

Locality: Cwm Bach

Traditional County: Glamorgan

Tagged with: Church building Building

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Margam

History

C14-15 church built for the local population of Margam who were not able to worship in the abbey church. In ruins, with fragments of Decorated and Perpendicular tracery. The E window (and possibly the adjacent S window) are Perpendicular and date to c1470. The W doorway does not sit well with the Decorated window above, but the dressing of the door is missing so it cannot be dated. It is possible that the church dates to 1470 and that the Decorated tracery was brought from the abbey. Also known as Capel Mair and Cryke Chapel.

Exterior

Roofless chapel of Sutton stone with battered plinth and quoins. The E and W ends and S side stand full height, whilst the N side survives up to 1.5m high. Single range with nave and chancel in one. Entrance at W end under segmental arched head (the exterior dressings are missing). Above and offset slightly to the L is a large window opening with shallow pointed head. Some upper level tracery survives, including part of a quatrefoil in the apex and cusps below, suggesting that the window had 2 lights with trefoiled heads.

On the S side is a 2nd doorway R of centre with a shallow pointed-arched head. A large window with similar head is to the R, with 2 lancets to the L. That nearest the W end retains its trefoiled head, carved from a single piece of stone. The E window also has a shallow pointed head, but the surviving upper level tracery is Perpendicular and there were 4 cinquefoil-headed lights. The profile of the top of the N wall suggests that there may have been 2 windows.

Interior

The interior jambs to the openings partially survive, whilst most of the openings have segmental arches of voussoirs. The exceptions are the E window and the adjacent S window which have dressed stone arches to the interior sides. The latter retains some plastering. Piscina to SE with ogee head. Splayed reveals to S lancets. Small recesses in W gable end.

Reasons for Listing

Listed grade II* for its medieval fabric and tracery detail. A very prominent structure in the landscape at Margam.

Scheduled Ancient Monument GM163 (NEP).

External Links

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

Other nearby listed buildings

II Stones Museum
Within the churchyard and adjoining the W boundary wall near the NW corner.
II Middle Lodge
Located on the N side of the road which leads to St Mary's Abbey Church. A further lane runs to the rear up towards Cwm Bach. In a slightly raised position with a retaining wall to the front.
II Kitchen Garden Walls including Vinery Glasshouse
The kitchen garden wall forms the N boundary of the gardens and flanks the lane leading to the abbey. A wall at right angles runs S to the Vinery Glasshouse.
II Almshouses
Located on the S side of the lane which leads off the A48 to St Mary's Abbey Church. The almshouses are opposite the churchyard entrance.
II Churchyard Walls and Gate Piers to St Mary's Abbey Church
Enclosure walls to a large, roughly rectangular churchyard to the N of the abbey church. It projects round to the W and incorporates the entrance gates.
II War Memorial
Located immediately outside and to the R of the entrance gates to St Mary's Abbey Church and churchyard.
I St Mary's Abbey Church
Located at the end of a short lane which runs NE off the A48. The Stones Museum is within the churchyard. The S doorway faces into Margam Park.
I Ivy Cottage including Facade of Former Banqueting House
Located along the N boundary of the gardens, N of the Orangery and SE of the kitchen gardens. The facade faces W into the park, whilst the cottage is outside the park boundary.

British Listed Buildings

History in Structure

Hen Eglwys

A Grade II* Listed Building in Margam, Neath Port Talbot

Coordinates