Caewern House – the Beginning

Built in 1876, it was designed by Mr J Bacon Fowler for Mr Edward Davies JP, nephew-in-law of the prominent Neath industrialist Isaac Redwood. Mr Davies lived at the house until his death in October 1921.

Now, a new chapter is set to unfold. Linc Cymru purchased Caewern House in August 2022 and has plans to sensitively redevelop the site, creating 36 much-needed affordable apartments. The original building has suffered extensive damage due to vandalism and years of neglect. In response, Linc’s proposals carefully consider the character of the area, with three-storey apartment buildings designed to complement their surroundings.

The house’s construction was reported in The Architect on April 8th 1876, where it was described as occupying ‘a commanding site near the town of Neath.’ The article goes on to describe the materials used in its construction, including the use of red Forest of Dean stone, ‘which adds a great deal of warmth to the tone.’

The article also describes the house’s impressive staircase, ‘open to the ceiling with a gallery running around two sides’ and the many windows of the drawing room, which allowed the occupants to enjoy the beautiful surrounding views.

Caewern House is located in a Caewern, just 1km northwest of Neath town centre. Most recently used as a respite care home for older people, the building closed in 2019 and has remained empty ever since.

Look out for further posts on the history of Caewern House, and if you have any stories of your own that you would like to share, please feel free to contact us at rachel.taylor@linc-cymru.co.uk

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