13025

 

II*  

Designated  

23/01/1976  

25/01/1995  

The Shell House Cilwendeg Farm  

 

Pembrokeshire  

Boncath  

 

Capel Colman  

222194  

238685  

 

Situated in undergrowth backing onto track running SW from Cilwendeg Farm some 70m SW of Counting House.  

Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces  

 

Early C19 garden folly, one of very few such in SW Wales, much deteriorated in later C20, with the loss of much of the interior shell decoration and all the roof plaster. Reroofed c1991.  

Early Cl9 garden folly with ornamental front in rough white quartz with Cilgerran stone dressings. C20 slate roof behind stepped parapet. Single storey, three-bay front of two Gothic windows with timber Y-tracery and centre doorway. Door was half-glazed with intersecting tracery and Gothic panels below (1980), now missing. White quartz rough walling with slate shelf over a frieze of smaller quartz bits, then high quartz parapet with slate coping notched on leading edge. Above parapet are two stepped blocks, white quartz edged in notched grey slate. Cresting originally of two rough menhir-shaped white quartz blocks to each step and top finial larger piece with oddly humanoid projecting pieces, two pieces are missing from right lower step. Facade is framed by grey stone piers with projecting bands vertically-notched, similarly notched capstone. Piers have remnant of a lime coating mixed with crushed red brick and coal grit. Plain rendered sides and rear, rear with projecting band across gable.  

Remnant of shell-inlaid panels on walls and corner slate shelving with notched leading edges. Windows were edged with mussel-shells. Damaged fireplace on rear wall. Remains of floor inlay said to have been of horses' teeth and vertebrae. No roof plaster remains.  

One of the most unusual garden buildings in S.W. Wales.