Court Colman Manor

Coordinates: 51°31′52″N 3°35′46″W / 51.531°N 3.596°W / 51.531; -3.596 Court Colman Manor is a historic Tudor mansion (now a hotel) in Pen Y Fai, Bridgend, South Wales. The property belonged to Margam Abbey until the Dissolution, after which it passed through several hands. Now a late Georgian style house, probably built (rebuilt) in the second quarter of the 19th Century, enlarged in 1907 with later additions. For most of its history, it has been the home for a succession of people who have guarded their privacy well.

Early History

During the English Civil War, Court Colman passed to John Watkins as recognition of his attachment to the parliamentary cause. He moved to Brecon and then signed the house over to his young brother. Another owner was Hopkin Rees who became High Sheriff of Glamorgan but the house passed again through several hands before it was bought by the Llewellyn family of Margam (1837).

It was bought by the Llewellyn family of Baglan Hall in 1837. A tablet now on the front of the house is said to record the building of a house here in 1766, which was subsequently replaced or modified by the Llewellyns, although no readily discernible traces of an earlier house are now visible. The Llewellyns house was enlarged by R.W Llewellyn of Baglan Hall in 1907 by the addition of a third floor and the additional wings. A ballroom and porch appear to be later still.

Llewelyn had earlier built "All Saint's" church at Pen-y-Fai, as a thank you, after the recovery of his wife from an illness, a school and twin lodges and gateway to Court Coleman between 1898 and 1903. William Llewellyn qualified as a doctor and became a ship’s surgeon. He was a great friend of Collingwood, now famed in history as the friend of Lord Nelson. William Llewellyn was invalided out of the navy and bought Court Colman in 1837.

There was some delay before Llewellyn could take over the house but in 1840 he died, never having lived there. His son William who was 20 years old took up residence a year later. In 1844 he married a Miss Knight of Tythegston whose family still live in the Hall at Tythegston. William became High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1854 following in the footsteps of Hopkin Rees.

20th Century

His son R W Llewellyn then succeeded his father and in 1906–1907 extensive alterations and improvements were carried out. The Last Wing and Conservatory had been stables. The roof was raised and windows added to the second floor and wings were added either side of the house to give the building a more balanced appearance.

An old sundial can be seen above the porch and the first inscription reading 1766, H Rees Esq. and Mr Llewellyn added the date of restoration 1906. His son Lieutenant (later Colonel) W H Llewellyn succeeded him and lived in the mansion until he retired. The house was bought by a retired headmaster of a Preparatory School in Bridgend but Mr G Morgan let the house become dilapidated.

In 1981 Court Colman Manor was turned into a hotel. The Lodges (Church Lodge and School Lodge) have now become private dwellings, and the school is now a nursery.