The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Rheola House, Resolven

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 02339w
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Glynneath
Unitary authority : Neath Port Talbot
NGR : SN8385204211
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL Country house
Status : listed building II*

Summary :
Rheola is a surviving example of an early 19th century villa by the architect John Nash with its contemporary picturesque setting (Grade II* listed, PGW Gm53 NEP). Although part of the park has been built over by a wartime aluminium factory, the greater part of the setting, which was kept deliberately simple, survives, as do some of Nash's picturesque estate buildings (Goldsmith 2012).

Description :
Rheola is a surviving example of an early 19th century villa by the architect John Nash with its contemporary picturesque setting (Grade II* listed, PGW Gm53 NEP). Although part of the park has been built over by a wartime aluminium factory, the greater part of the setting, which was kept deliberately simple, survives, as do some of Nash's picturesque estate buildings. Rheola is characterised as a small picturesque park, informal grounds and a walled kitchen garden. The gardens were enhanced in the 19th century by tree and shrub planting. Rheola is also known to be the site of a medieval grange, this is now restored as part of the estate; a medieval watermill also existed but has since been destroyed (Goldsmith 2012).

Rheola is a substantial, two-storey house in a simple Regency style, situated on the north side of the Vale of Neath. Built in several phases the estate was bought by John Edwards, a successful engineer from Neath, from Capel Hanbury Leigh of Pontypool Park and The Gnoll, in about 1800. John Nash, Edwards nephew, was asked to enlarge the existing farmhouse maintaining its cottage-like appearance. The new house was completed in 1814 and recorded in the paintings by Thomas Hornor. Rheola was built as a Romantic overgrown cottage, rather than a mansion, placed within a natural rustic setting. Hornor described it as 'an attractive feature in a landscape whose prevailing character is repose and seclusion’ (Cadw 2000; Goldsmith 2012).

There is very little parkland at Rheola; this is partly due to the approach to landscaping of Nash and the Edwards family, which was to maintain a simple and rural setting, and partly because a large area of the former park has been taken by the aluminium plant. Most of the remaining park lies to the east of the house, and is open level or gently sloping ground between the garden and the main A465 road. To the south of the house and garden is an area of grass on which part of the aluminium works, demolished in the 1990s, stood. The essential setting consists mainly of natural woodland, Crugau and Rheola Woods, to the north and west of the park, adding to the simplistic and rural character the inspiration of Edwards and Nash (Goldsmith 2012).

Sources :
Goldsmith, L , 2012 , The Rheola Estate, Resolven: environmental impact assessment
The Handley Partnership , HAAbase built heritage assessment system: Buildings at Risk database
02/pm mention/RCAHM//1982/Invent II 3/p253 MG6
01/pm desc text///1983/SW Evening Post/

Events :
E005442 : Rheola Estates, Resolven (year : 2012)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 908W
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02896w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00908w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 05129w

Compiled date : 03-02-1988


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