Located within the picturesque countryside just north of Llantwit Major and accessible only by a narrow single track lane which often floods during the winter months, are the moulding ruins of Great Frampton farm house. Despite being a ruin Great Frampton house, which is situated within its own private grounds, is a Grade II listed building which is defined as being of 'special architectural or historical interest'. There is a veritable air of yesteryear at Great Frampton as a place which the modern world has yet to penetrate; crumbling pedestals, rusting gates, overgrown vegetation and an aura of neglect and decay greet the visitor upon arrival to Great Frampton. This creates a sombre atmosphere which has attracted a great deal of interest from photographers and curious parties who are drawn by the intrigue and romance that historical ruins often exude.
(Great Frampton as seen from its garden)
Great Frampton’s
late eighteenth century façade, which consists of five bays elevated at three
storeys, was constructed with many of the hallmarks of a fashionable and
elegant Georgian country house. This includes a Roman inspired pediment gracing
its front door, quintessential rows of neat sash windows and orbed finals at
each end of its parapet. Concealed beneath the eighteenth century façade
however is a building of much greater antiquity.
The original Great Frampton house was a Tudor period farmhouse which was built around the year 1600. Substantial elements of which such as a sixteenth century stone stair turret located at the east side of the property and various internal features such as two characteristically Tudor chamfered doorways with arched heads, and several stone window molds, can still be discerned amongst the eighteenth century re-modelling. Behind Great Frampton is a rear annex which was built during the early seventeenth century and most likely acted as a kitchen and service wing. This building did not benefit from the eighteenth century re-modelling although it was substantially altered and modernised during the twentieth century.
The original Great Frampton house was a Tudor period farmhouse which was built around the year 1600. Substantial elements of which such as a sixteenth century stone stair turret located at the east side of the property and various internal features such as two characteristically Tudor chamfered doorways with arched heads, and several stone window molds, can still be discerned amongst the eighteenth century re-modelling. Behind Great Frampton is a rear annex which was built during the early seventeenth century and most likely acted as a kitchen and service wing. This building did not benefit from the eighteenth century re-modelling although it was substantially altered and modernised during the twentieth century.
(View of the eighteenth century facade-the orbed finals which were still in situ not long ago, are now to be found on the ground as a result of vandalism)
Great
Frampton house was for centuries a comfortable home to various local gentry
families who were prominent local landowners within the Llantwit Major area such as the Jones family, who are recorded as occupying Great Frampton
throughout much the seventeenth and the eighteenth century. A detailed inventory of Great Frampton is recorded in the year 1636 upon the death of Mary Jones. One Morgan Jones is recorded in the Hearth Tax assessment of 1670 as residing as Great Frampton, which was noted to have contained seven hearths thus making Jones eligible to pay a levy of 2 shillings per hearth.
Upon the death of Stephen Jones in 1725 he left his wife, called Mary Jones, his 'Frampton Estate'. Stephen's daughter, also called Mary Jones, received one hundred pounds and a bed. Stephen's servant Jane Rees was bequeathed the sum of ten shillings, although oddly Stephen leaves his son Morgan Jones a paltry two shillings and six pence.
An Inventory of Stephen's varied live stock was also drawn up as well as a basic inventory of his household goods which included 'four feather beds', valued at five pounds, indicating that Frampton house before it was remodeled in the late eighteenth century contained four bedrooms. There were also various pewter items valued at two pounds and ten shillings, and a plough valued at one pound. The total value of Stephen's worldly goods came to the sum of £62. 10.s, which seems very modest for a gentleman farmer.
Famed astronomer Nathaniel Piggot (1725-1804) during the latter part of the 1770’s resided at Great Frampton and constructed an observatory within its grounds where he made several notable astronomical observations which were published by the Royal Society. A family called Wilkin, who it seems were related to the Jones family and whose family members throughout the eighteenth century occupied nearby Little Frampton, a small single story farmhouse dating to the early seventeenth century, acquired Great Frampton during the late eighteenth or the early nineteenth century. It was they who were most likely responsible for the rebuilding of the facade. The Wilkin family leased much of the land to tenant farmers. During the twentieth century Great Frampton was known for its herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle; this herd frequently won many prestigious accolades and prizes from various cattle and farming shows across Britain.
Upon the death of Stephen Jones in 1725 he left his wife, called Mary Jones, his 'Frampton Estate'. Stephen's daughter, also called Mary Jones, received one hundred pounds and a bed. Stephen's servant Jane Rees was bequeathed the sum of ten shillings, although oddly Stephen leaves his son Morgan Jones a paltry two shillings and six pence.
An Inventory of Stephen's varied live stock was also drawn up as well as a basic inventory of his household goods which included 'four feather beds', valued at five pounds, indicating that Frampton house before it was remodeled in the late eighteenth century contained four bedrooms. There were also various pewter items valued at two pounds and ten shillings, and a plough valued at one pound. The total value of Stephen's worldly goods came to the sum of £62. 10.s, which seems very modest for a gentleman farmer.
Famed astronomer Nathaniel Piggot (1725-1804) during the latter part of the 1770’s resided at Great Frampton and constructed an observatory within its grounds where he made several notable astronomical observations which were published by the Royal Society. A family called Wilkin, who it seems were related to the Jones family and whose family members throughout the eighteenth century occupied nearby Little Frampton, a small single story farmhouse dating to the early seventeenth century, acquired Great Frampton during the late eighteenth or the early nineteenth century. It was they who were most likely responsible for the rebuilding of the facade. The Wilkin family leased much of the land to tenant farmers. During the twentieth century Great Frampton was known for its herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle; this herd frequently won many prestigious accolades and prizes from various cattle and farming shows across Britain.
(Great Frampton during the 1960's)
Great Frampton House
was put on the market during the early 1990’s but was gutted by a fire in
1994 with the roof, internal floors and all internal architectural features including its fine late-eighteenth century centre staircase complete with turned balustrades and a Chinese Chippendale inspired attic balustrade, destroyed by the blaze. The sixteenth century stone step turret along with the seventeenth century rear wing however were spared the flames, although the rear annex lies in a state of dereliction and has been the
subject of vandalism. Great Frampton House
was essentially left as a shell and remains in a precarious state-so much so
that the internal walls are being retained in situ by a series of scaffolding
to prevent total collapse. The building was put onto the Vale of Glamorgan
Council's 2013 'Buildings at Risk Register and Strategy' report and
seemed destined to eventually succumb to the elements and vandalism.
(Interior view of the vandalized rear annex)
In 2017 however Great Frampton would begin a new lease of life. An ambitious renovation scheme which will transform the crumbling ruins of Great Frampton House and its associated farm out-buildings into habitable dwellings was begun. Restoration plans for Great Frampton's charred and gutted interior will attempt to incorporate traditional styling whilst also assimilating modern elements in an interesting amalgamation of styles in order to make Great Frampton a comfortable residence fit for the twenty first century. The renovations of the outbuildings is already well underway and work on Great Frampton House is due to begin early next year with the whole project expected to be finished by 2020.
Mark and
Jonathan Lambert are archaeology graduates of Cardiff University and are published
authors. They have been writing about and researching local history for the
past 20 years and have a wealth of knowledge. All articles are original
compositions - we hope you enjoy our content. Enquiries: hiddenglamorgan@outlook.com
©Jonathan
and Mark Lambert 2018
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