History

Built in 1864 (date on building). Formerly known as the Burrows Court, it was here in 1875 that Dr Ifor Lewis, the handball champion from Llantrisant, defeated Mr Lovett, the champion of Neath, in a celebrated match.

Exterior

A 3-sided rubble-stone court with brick dressings. The front, facing E, is taller and has a sinuous wall head with brick copings and 5 blind tall elliptical arches. To the centre is a crowned stone medallion inscribed 'gwrol galon hyd angau' (a brave heart till death) to a ribbon enclosing a heart dated 1864. Flanking this are raised brickwork racquet and ball motifs. The L side wall sweeps down and has a racquet and ball motif similar to the front. It also has 8 blind elliptical arches following the slope of the ground with a corresponding raked string course above. The coping course is mostly missing. The R side wall is also swept down sharply, has a blind oculus, or ball motif, but is otherwise obscured by vegetation.

The interior is cement rendered, some of which has fallen off, and a circular panel in the middle of the high E wall.

Reasons for Listing

Listed for social-historical interest as a rare and well-preserved structure associated with a once popular sport in S Wales.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29490218

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hampshire: Winchester and the North (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire West Riding: Leeds, Bradford and the North (Pevsner Architectural Guides / Buildings of England)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  Renovating Old Houses: Bringing New Life to Vintage Homes (For Pros By Pros)