Carswell Medieval House

Carswell Medieval House is a Grade II-listed[1] historic stone ruin of a medieval tenant farm in the village of Penally, near St Florence in Tenby.[2] Visit Wales describe it as "one of the only buildings of its type still standing in this part of Wales" and an example of "everyday medieval life away from the grand castles often associated with the period."[3]

Not to be confused with Carswell House.
Carswell Medieval House
Carswell Medieval House
General information
Architectural styleNorman era tenant farm
Town or cityNear St Florence,
Tenby,
Pembrokeshire,
Wales
SA70 8NE
CountryWales
Coordinates51°40′32″N 4°45′10″W
Completedc. 1400–1500

History
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The present site formed what was a complex of farm buildings in the estate of the earls of Pembroke.[4] Together with the land, the rent was one tenth of a knight's fee.[4] In 1397 it was rented by a William Wyte.[5]

Records of the building trace back to the fourteenth and sixteenth century by which the building had been divided into two.[4] The building has a strange layout, having a separate entrance to each floor, and no internal access.[5] A later addition, a staircase, was added but is no longer visible.[4]

The building is a two-storey gabled structure and has a vaulted undercroft. The building has evidence of a hearth, stone bench, stones indicating hobs, and an "exceedingly large and complete chimney."[5]

Since the 17th century the property was managed by the Trustees of the Tenby Charities and the Church of St. Mary's in Tenby,[5] and later by other Tenby charitable foundations, from around the seventeenth century.[4]

The roof became roofless in the 19th century.[5]

The site came into state care in 1982 and is presently maintained by Cadw.[6] It is according to historians an "excellent example of a medieval yeoman's house."[5]

Access
Carswell Medieval House

The property lies beside Carswell Farm, one mile to the east of the village of St Florence. It has the postcode SA70 8NE, but CADW list the property through its coordinates due to the number of unmarked local roads.[5]

Visitors are advised to locate the site using an Ordnance Survey map and number SN098010 instead. There is no visitor parking area or facilities, and while the site is accessible at all hours, it is advised that visitors come during "reasonable hours."[5]

Bibliography
  • Turner, Rick. 2000. Lamphey Bishop's Palace, Llawaden Castle, Carswell Medieval House and Carew Cross: Cadw Guide (Revised Edition)

References
  1. Stuff, Good. "Carswell Mediaeval House, Penally, Pembrokeshire". britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  2. "CARSWELL HOUSE, ST FLORENCE | Coflein". coflein.gov.uk. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  3. "Carswell Medieval House (Cadw) | VisitWales". www.visitwales.com. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  4. Turner, Rick (2000). Lamphey Bishop’s Palace, Llawaden Castle, Carswell Medieval House and Carew Cross: Cadw Guide (Revised Edition). Cadw. ISBN 1857601114.
  5. "Carswell Medieval House, History & Visiting Information | Historic Pembrokeshire Guide". Britain Express. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
  6. "Places to visit | Cadw". cadw.gov.wales. Retrieved 2019-09-20.
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