The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

The following information has been provided under the terms and conditions of access as detailed on GGAT’s website www.ggat.org.uk.  Copyright is reserved on all data supplied by the GGAT HER Charitable Trust. All output resulting from the use of the data must acknowledge the source as follows:-
Derived from information held by the GGAT HER Charitable Trust copyright.

The data below is intended to be used for information and research only and is not for use as part of a commercial project.  If you wish to use information derived from material held by the GGAT HER Charitable Trust for publication in printed or multimedia form or to compile resources for commercial use, prior permission must be obtained in writing. For further information or to arrange a visit to the Trust please send an enquiry form http://www.ggat.org.uk/her/english/enquiry_form.html to her@ggat.org.uk.

The Bath House, Margam

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 04796w
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Margam
Unitary authority : Neath Port Talbot
NGR : SS80308692
Site Type (preferred type first) : Medieval Bath house
Status : Scheduled Monument , listed building II*

Summary :
This medieval bath house is located close to Margam Abbey, reputedly utilising a holy or healing well known as Ffynnon Gyffyr (lit. medicinal spring) which suggests that it was formerly used for healing certain ailments (Jones 1954:189).

Description :
This medieval bath house is located close to Margam Abbey, reputedly utilising a holy or healing well known as Ffynnon Gyffyr (lit. medicinal spring) which suggests that it was formerly used for healing certain ailments (Jones 1954:189). Whether this spring was 'controlled' by the monks of Margam Abbey and used as a means of raising funds by people making payments to the Abbey for bathing there is not known. The spring's use might pre-date the monastery though the present bath house structure was probably built in the 14th or 15th century to act as a baptistery for the congregation of the nearby Hen Eglwys. The bath house is of rubble stone construction with a vaulted roof. The central pool is L-shaped, about 1m in depth with a water inlet at one end and steps leading down into it at the other. Some of the original flagstones are still present and much of the roof retains a coating of limewash. The bath house has been scheduled as it is in very good condition and represents an important surviving element from the Margam Abbey estate of the medieval period.
)

Sources :
The Handley Partnership , HAAbase built heritage assessment system: Buildings at Risk database
1954/JONES/F/THE HOLY WELLS OF WALES/p189
Evans EM, 2003-04, GGAT 73 Early Medieval Ecclesiastical Sites Project
03/Desc Text/Cadw/Full Management Report /11/01/2007/Copy in further information file.

Events :
E007984 : Ysgol Newydd (Margam), Port Talbot, Wales (year : 2016)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 32343 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/32343/details
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 764w

Compiled date : 12-03-2004


Images :



March 29, 2025, 10:17 am - HTML file produced from GGAT HER Charitable Trust Ltd. Heathfield House, Heathfield, Swansea SA1 Tel. 01792 655208; Fax 01792 474469 website: www.ggat.org.uk  email: her@ggat.org.uk Registered Charity no. 505609
Data supplied by in partnership with Local Authorities, Cadw and the partners of ENDEX © GGAT HER Charitable Trust, 2025 (and in part © Crown, 2025).