Margam Park

I've sketched the buildings of Margam Park on a number of occasions. It's the site of the medieval Cistercian Margam Abbey. There are few remains, although the second sketch down from the top of this page shows the remains of the Chapter House. The top picture shows the Abbey Church which was constructed around the nave of the former Abbey church.

 In the 19th century one of the richest men in the world, Christopher Rice Mansel Talbot built the gothic mansion, Margam Caste, which is in the third sketch. He also built the Orangery in the 4th photo. 

The top picture was sold privately, while the third sketch of the gothic castle was sold for Oxfam.

65) Margam Abbey Ruins and Margam Castle

The building on the left is the ruined Chapter House of the medieval Margam Abbey, a Cistercian Abbey originally founded in 1147.  It’s very possible that there was a much older monastic community on the same site, or close by, since early Celtic stone crosses have been found on the site, and they are on display in the nearby Margam Stones Museum. In the background, the large building is Margam Castle, a 19th century gothic confection that I’ve sketched before. The view looking up the steps towards the castle is actually one of my favourite views in the whole of Port Talbot. I managed to get the figure in when she stopped for a minute, to have a breather, I think. It was a beautiful bright day sketching this, but there was a cold wind blowing, and the bench I sat on to make this sketch was in the shade. I know that we can get 4 seasons in one day in Britain, but come on, shivering in July?!

44) Former Bryn Siriol Senior Citizens' Centre, Cymmer

I knew nothing about this building when I made this sketch other than the fact that I recalled passing it as I drove through Cymmer a couple of years ago, and thought it would be a good subject for a sketch. What it is, is the former Bryn Siriol Senior Citizen’s Centre which closed several years ago. It began life, I believe, as rural council offices, and has always served the community of Cymmer in one civic role or another. From the sketch it looks in quite decent nick, but sadly seems quite dilapidated when you get up closer to it.

6) Plaza CInema

When I first moved to Port Talbot in 1986, the Plaza was the only working cinema in town, although there were several other buildings which had once been cinemas but either stood derelict, or had been transformed into different types of premises. I remember watching "Back to the Future on its glorious big screen" not long after I moved here. It's still another of my favourite buildings in the town, and one which I've also painted in acrylic.

The Plaza, a glorious Art Deco building which was opened in 1940, has been unoccupied since closing in 1999. For several years there have been discussions in the council about refurbishing the building, possibly as an Arts Centre, but I don't believe that any positive action has yet been taken.