Dimlands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dimlands |
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Dimlands - the lodge
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| Alternative names | Dimland Castle; Dimland Lodge |
| General information | |
| Type | Manor house |
| Architectural style | Tudor architecture |
| Location | Near Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan |
| Country | Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°24′22″N 3°30′4″W / 51.40611°N 3.50111°W |
Dimlands, also known as Dimland Castle or Dimland Lodge, was once a grand house in southeast Wales. It was located near Llantwit Major in the Vale of Glamorgan. The house looked like a small castle from the Tudor period. It was built about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the cliffs of the Bristol Channel.
Sadly, the main house was destroyed by a fire in 1948. But a smaller building, called the lodge, is still standing. This lodge is built in a similar castle-like style. It became a Grade II listed building in 1982, meaning it is a protected historic building.
Contents
History of Dimlands
Early Owners and Builders
Long ago, this area was home to a fortress. It belonged to a Welsh ruler named Iestyn ap Gwrgant. Even today, some fields nearby are called Caer Wrgan, which means "Wrganstown".
The land where Dimlands stood belonged to the Nicholl family for a very long time. They owned it since the days of King Henry VII.
Reverend Robert Nicholl Carne built Dimlands in the late 1700s. He inherited the land from his father, Whitlock Nicholl. When Robert died in 1849, his son, John Whitlock Nicholl Carne, took over Dimlands. John made improvements to the house around 1850.
Later Residents and the Fire
In 1875, the famous architect Sir Matthew Digby Wyatt rented Dimlands. He was married to Mary Nicholl, who was a relative of Robert Nicholl Carne. Sir Matthew died at Dimlands just two years later. It's possible that John Nicholl Carne asked Wyatt to help with the house's renovations in 1850.
Later, from 1900 to 1921, the Crawshay family lived at Dimlands. Tudor Crawshay was an important local official. He was also a church warden at St Illtyd's Church, Llantwit Major.
The main Dimlands house was destroyed by a fire in 1948.
What Dimlands Looked Like
Outside the House
Dimlands was built in the style of a Tudor castle. It had a strong exterior made of blue lias limestone. The windows and decorative edges were made from Coombedown stone. The main front of the house, facing south, was very long, over 130 feet (40 meters). From the south turrets, you could even see the western coast of Cornwall and Lundy Island.
Inside the House
In 1853, the inside of Dimlands was described in detail. The dining room had a beautiful fireplace carved from Caen stone. It had an old family motto carved into it: "+FY ;+NGOBAITH+SY DD+YN. + NUW.+.", which means "My hope is in God".
Other parts of the house had special features. There were Mintons tile floors and a large staircase in the Tudor style. The house also had two sitting rooms and a library. The drawing room had a unique fireplace made of Caen stone. It was decorated with the initials I:N:C and another old motto: "-4-HEB.-fDHYW.+HEB.-TDHYM.+DUW+A+DIGON+".
The house displayed several large oil paintings. These showed places connected to the family, like St Donat's Castle, Lanrihangle, and Llantwit Major. The library, which was a newer addition, had a large fireplace with white glazed bricks. One of the sitting rooms had a painting of Miss Elinor Carne. It was painted by the famous artist Sir Thomas Lawrence when she was only fourteen years old.
The Grounds and Stables
The stables at Dimlands were not very big. They had sharp, pointed roofs. At the top of these roofs, there were carvings of the Carne family crest. This crest showed a pelican coming out of a crown.
On the south side of the stables, there was a carved stone. It showed the Carne family's coat of arms. It also had the date when the family was first granted their arms (1336). It mentioned when this was confirmed (1842). The stone also told the story of how the Rev. Robert Nicholl took the Carne family name and estates through marriage.
