Dimlands

The site was previously occupied by the fortress of Iestyn ap Gwrgant, lord of Glamorgan and the last ruler of the Welsh kingdom of Morgannwg; its fields are still known as Caer Wrgan ("Wrganstown"). The property was held by the Nicholl family since the time of King Henry VII. Dimlands was built by Rev. Robert Nicholl Carne at the end of the 18th century upon land left him by his father, Whitlock Nicholl, of The Ham, High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1746. Upon Robert's death in 1849, his younger son, John Whitlock Nicholl Carne of the University of Oxford, inherited Dimlands, and the 1850 improvements are attributed to him Dimlands was leased to the architect Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt (1820–1877)…

The dwelling was of castellated Tudor architecture with blue lias limestone exterior, and Coombedown stone windows and cornices. The south facing main front was more than 130 ft in length. The western coast of Cornwall and Lundy Island were visible from the south turrets. The interior was described in 1853 as follows: "The carved chimney in the dining room is made of Caen stone; the old Carne motto of "+FY ;+NGOBAITH+SY DD+YN. + NUW.+." (My hope is in God) is inscribed on its chief panel. The drawing room is remarkable for the peculiar shape of its chimney piece; it has features similar to those found in some church arches. It is constructed of Caen stone, and has a label over it, ending in…