History

Electricity was introduced to Margam Castle and surrounding buildings in 1891 by Emily Charlotte Talbot. It was supplied by a hydro-electric scheme devised by Drake and Goreham of Westminster. A head of water drove a turbine of 25 horse-power, but with a steam engine of the same capacity in reserve. These were located in a purpose-built engine house. Enough electricity was produced to light 400 lamps. This was a significant and early development; the first domestic house in Britain to be supplied with electricity was at Cragside in Northumberland in 1880.

Exterior

Two parallel ranges orientated N-S with a further range across the S end projecting slightly to the W. Single storey. Constructed of roughly coursed stone with rock-faced quoins under tiled roofs. Timber-framing to N and S gables, hollow moulded tie beams and wide barge boards. The N gables have diagonal struts and the single gable to the S has vertical struts. The latter has an external stack offset to the L rising to an octagonal shaft. Hearth recess at base of stack within a cast iron frame. Main entrance to N side under R gable. Double planked doors with segmental stone head. This opening appears to have been widened. Under the L gable is a small 2-light window under a segmental stone head. The remaining window openings have flat stone lintels and stone sills and contain late C20 windows, each with a horizontal glazing bar. Two windows to W side, one in the projecting gable end. One window in S wall, L of stack. The E wall is built into the bank. Gabled half dormer to L containing window as elsewhere. Below it is a recess with a cast iron lintel. Towards the centre is a window, and to the R a former doorway under a segmental head of voussoirs, now infilled with a window. Further window to R. A red brick boundary wall runs N from the NE angle.

Interior

Each range is of 3 bays with King post roof trusses. The valley between the two parallel ranges is supported on 2 steel columns and a girder. A dividing wall runs down the centre-line of the E range, immediately E of the stack. Small rooms are located beyond. Doorway to L under segmental brick head, with late C20 door. Projection at L end with further doorway. Relieving arches to windows.

The turbine is located in the projection at the W end of the S range, within a late C20 brick enclosure. Riveted metal casing around wheel, with makers stamp, Gilbert Gilkes & Co, Kendal. A large circular pipe joins the wheel casing from the N side. Outlet pipes come out from the E and W faces, curving downwards and into a tail race. Along the top of the W face of the wheel is a valve mechanism for controlling the water, consisting of a turning wheel, metal rods, and a small gear wheel. An axle projects from the E side and is supported on a bearing, but does not continue much further.

Reasons for Listing

Listed for its historical and technical interest for the early production of electricity in a domestic context.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q29500412

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

• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: West and the Weald: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Suffolk: West: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)