SKER HOUSE, Pyle, West Glamorgan 1997
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Notes on SKER HOUSE, Pyle, West Glamorgan 1997 (now restored)
Sker is a huge, imposing 16th century house, built by the Monks of Neath Abbey, standing alone, resilient and high on a deserted stretch of coastline. It has been standing empty, partially fallen and decayed for years with much talk and little action taken to save this medieval (at the core) house.
A mile long walk from the road up to its door filled my eyes and intrepid heart with glee. Though I wasn't disappointed, a successful exposure was a struggle. I do not feel I caught the essence of Sker. All the elements were present: a stunning surrounding and a magnificent, majestic house, twisted wind blown coastal trees and slow, warm evening sunlight. All this but I couldn't find the angle that satisfied me.
Regrettably I forgot to take a torch too. One window had been broken into and the others were all boarded up. Much to my loss I missed the opportunity to view the elaborate plasterwork in the large main hall (said to seat a hundred people): prehistoric bird creatures shooting arrows at dragons! It was abandoned in 1970 but recently and successfully (2000) restored and fully renovated as a family home.
The Victorian novelist R.D. Blackmore , best known for his novel Lorna Doone, spent much of his childhood at nearby Nottage Court and knew Sker well. Less well known is the fact that he also wrote a novel called The Maid of Sker.
Sker House 1997
Sker House 1997
Sker House 1997
Sker House 1997
Sker House 1997
Sker is a huge, imposing 16th century house, built by the Monks of Neath Abbey, standing alone, resilient and high on a deserted stretch of coastline. It has been standing empty, partially fallen and decayed for years with much talk and little action taken to save this medieval (at the core) house.
A mile long walk from the road up to its door filled my eyes and intrepid heart with glee. Though I wasn't disappointed, a successful exposure was a struggle. I do not feel I caught the essence of Sker. All the elements were present: a stunning surrounding and a magnificent, majestic house, twisted wind blown coastal trees and slow, warm evening sunlight. All this but I couldn't find the angle that satisfied me.
Regrettably I forgot to take a torch too. One window had been broken into and the others were all boarded up. Much to my loss I missed the opportunity to view the elaborate plasterwork in the large main hall (said to seat a hundred people): prehistoric bird creatures shooting arrows at dragons! It was abandoned in 1970 but recently and successfully (2000) restored and fully renovated as a family home.
The Victorian novelist R.D. Blackmore , best known for his novel Lorna Doone, spent much of his childhood at nearby Nottage Court and knew Sker well. Less well known is the fact that he also wrote a novel called The Maid of Sker.
Sker House 1997
Sker House 1997
Sker House 1997
Sker House 1997
Sker House 1997
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Return to: THE GLAMORGANS (Including Neath Port Talbot, Gower, Vale of Glamorgan) or RUINS THROUGHOUT WALES or Galleries
Comments
By martin: it is also said that sker house is haunted as well and when i was a kid we used to camp in the grounds so if there were goast's in the old house they never showed themselves when we were there heheh. By Mathew P Mathew: Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing on behalf of Shalom Media UK. Shalom Media is a registered charity based in Sheffield. Rt Rev. Ralph Heskett, Bishop of Hallam diocese is our patron. We are producing documentaries about significant Christian Personalities of the past for broadcasting on Shalom World TV. We are focusing on St. Philip Evans in one of the episodes . As part of this we wish to take some footage of the Sker House . I would like to request your kind permission to do the filming on 17th December 2022. Our camera crew is quite small and includes four people, three cameras and two tripods. We will make sure that our filming does not disturb the public.
Looking forward to your kind reply.
Thank you in advance.