Scolton Manor facts for kids
Scolton Manor is a cool old house and park in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. It's near Haverfordwest and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. This big Victorian house was built to be a family home. Now, it's a fun museum you can visit! It's also a special building, listed as Grade II*. The park and gardens around it are also very important. Pembrokeshire County Council owns Scolton Manor. You can explore the house, its beautiful gardens, and see many interesting exhibits.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Building a New Home
Scolton Manor was designed by local architects William and James Owen. It was built in 1840 and the Higgon family moved in by 1842. This new house replaced an older family home that had burned down many years before.
The Higgon Family
The Higgon family was very important in Pembrokeshire. Three members of the Higgon family even held the important job of High Sheriff of Pembrokeshire. The last family member to live there was Lt Col John Henry Victor Higgon, who lived until 1987. The house itself is built in a classic style, with light-colored walls and a roof that slopes gently.
Becoming a Museum
Later, Pembrokeshire County Council took over Scolton Manor. They turned the beautiful grounds into a country park. The house was carefully fixed up and opened to the public. Today, Scolton Manor is home to Pembrokeshire's County Museum Service.
What You Can See
Inside the Manor House
The main exhibition hall inside Scolton Manor shows off the long history of Pembrokeshire. You can learn about nature, rocks, different jobs people did, and what life was like during World War II. There's also a special collection of paintings and drawings by an artist named David Burton-Richardson.
Country Life Displays
In the buildings outside the main house, you can see how people lived and worked in the Pembrokeshire countryside. There are old stables and carriages. You can also learn about traditional skills like carpentry and blacksmithing. There's even a special gypsy caravan on display!
Exploring the Grounds
The grounds around Scolton Manor are just as interesting as the house!
- Victorian Walled Garden: This beautiful garden was opened in July 2014. It's a lovely place to walk around.
- Pembrokeshire Beekeeping Centre: Also opened in July 2014, this center teaches you all about bees and how they make honey.
- Pineapple House: In 2018, this special greenhouse grew a pineapple! It was thought to be the first pineapple grown in Wales in over 100 years.
- Margaret the Train: You can see an old steam locomotive named Margaret. This train was used on a local railway way back in 1878.
The gardens and parkland are very special and are listed on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales.
