History
Slebech Park is built on the site of the commandery of the Knights Hospitallers of the Order of St John.
After the Dissolution the commandery became the seat of the Barlow family, and was demolished for the
construction of the present house by John Symmons, formerly of Llanstinan, who became the second
husband of Anne Barlow in 1773.
The new house was built in 1776. The architect is thought, on the basis of the draughtsmanship of
surviving drawings, to have been Anthony Keck: he had a considerable practice in Gloucestershire,
Worcestershire and Herefordshire, producing country houses with plain exteriors and elegant interiors of
Adamsian derivation, many with bowed wings. J. Calvert, architect, of Swansea, worked here, but
apparently in a subsidiary role, and in 1779 there was a lawsuit over his fees, settled in his favour. Detailed
information about the house as first built is found in papers in the National Library. The design of the
house might suggest a conscious imitation of Picton Castle, with four bowed wings imitating the similarly
placed four main bastions of the Castle.
In 1778 Symmons, in financial difficulties, sold the house and estate to William Knox. Knox was a leading
figure in promoting enclosure and mineral exploitation locally. He in turn sold the house and estate to
Nathaniel Phillips, a proprietor of plantations in Jamaica, in 1792. Phillips is chiefly remembered as the
builder of Blackpool Mill. He married Mary Dorothea Philipps, daughter of the Rev. Edward Philipps; his
daughter, also Mary Dorothea, married Charles Frederick, Baron von Rutzen (of Courland, Latvia) and with
a slight change of name the de Rutzen family continued at Slebech Park until the C20.
Mrs Morgan visited in 1791, and referred to the exceedingly handsome house, with 25 bedrooms, each
with a dressing room adjoining, two parlours, study, drawing room, dining room and billiard room. Extensive repairs in 1803-05 perhaps by Thomas Beford of Llandeilo, more repairs in 1830 by Thomas Rowlands of Havefordwest. Fenton
gives a view of the house as it appeared c.1810. He criticised the poor siting (due, he implies, to a decision
to rebuild on the precise site of the former commandery) but was favourably impressed by the well-
connected range of offices, hothouses, conservatory, and an ornamental building on the hill to the N. The
present dining room (opposite the entrance) was formerly the ballroom. To the left the wings contained
the dining room and a room at one time used as a kitchen, now a library, to the right the drawing room and
study. The music room was on the first floor at the right, at front, and the billiard room was above the
entrance hall.
The house was converted to flats and the battlements removed in 1955 by Sir Thomas Meyrick. The house was purchased in 1959 by the Hon. William and Lady Jean Philipps, who restored it to a single dwelling. Some of the original detail was reinstated, with other items brought in from elsewhere, including Stackpole Court (demolished 1962).