Sker House

Sker House is arguably one of the most important historical buildings in Wales. Originally built as a monastic grange of the Cistercian order over 900 years ago, it is situated just outside of the village of Kenfig, near Bridgend in Wales. The house later became a residential property and has been involved in many of the disputes that the area has experienced. It has also claimed many of the areas prominent historical figures as residents. Its residential form appears to have been determined by the preceding monastic grange, of which little remains. The house was made famous as the basis of R.D. Blackmoore's book, "The Maid of Sker".

Once known for being a grey, gaunt, and romantic building it fell into dereliction during the 19th century. After many years of abandonment, it was finally declared as unsafe in 1979. Beginning on 31 March 1999 the building underwent a significant restoration. The project ended in July 2003. The house's troubled history continued when the contractors for the restoration ran into massive overspending and went into receivership at the end of 1999.

In 2003, the house was sold to a private buyer, and now stands whitewashed in yellow against the backdrop of the barren sands of Kenfig Burrows and the sea.

More information

* [http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/sker/sker.htm Building Conservation case study]
* [http://www.kenfig.org.uk/skerhouse.html Kenfig:A complete history - Sker House]
* [http://www.page-net.com/swansea.localhistory/llansamlet/pages/maid.htm Local history]
* [http://www.periodproperty.co.uk/ppom042003.htm Period Property]
* [http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/item1/336 Cutaway drawing of sker house]
* [http://www.pbase.com/jhaydnreynolds/sker_house_in_1990 1990 photos of sker house]