Open Doors - St John's House, Bridgend

St John's House is the oldest habitable building in Bridgend, with beams dating to 1511/1512. In style and plan it belongs to a class of buildings known as hearth-passage houses as, in plan, they share a common characteristic of the main hall fireplace and chimney backing onto a central passage which serves to divide the house into two units.

The building is of possible 15th, and certain 16th century, construction: the presence of a stair encapsulated within one of the walls could support the very late medieval origin, rather than a Tudor construction date. 

The building is of unusual quality. It has seen little change, and preserves a degree of structural integrity not always seen in domestic dwellings of an early post-medieval date in Wales.

The house is located in the Newcastle Hill Conservation Area, which includes the medieval Newcastle Castle ruin, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and a number of buildings of 17th century and later date, some of which are also listed. None are as old as St John’s House.

For Open Doors - 
Sunday 8 September - Debra John will be playing the part of a Victorian Lady during the day.
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 September - medieval archers will be displaying weapons of the time.

Address - St John's House, Newcastle Hill, Bridgend, CF31 4PG.

Location - on the right when walking up Newcastle Hill. Note - there is no parking on Newcastle Hill.

You do not need to book for this event.