Scolton Manor is located 3 miles to the north of Haverfordwestn near the village of Spittal. The site is an ancient one, the estate recorded as part of a knight’s fee in the fourteenth century. The likely site of the original house is now occupied by Scolton Home Farm (nprn 96394). The park and gardens are believed to have been laid out soon after the new house, now a museum (30223), was completed in 1842 by the Higgon family. The park and gardens lie around but mostly to the south of the house and occupy some 61 acres of largely south-sloping land. The park is some 24 acres in area whilst most of the rest, excluding buildings, is plantation and shrubberies.

There are two entrances to Scolton, both off the B4329. Near the main entrance is a small, single-storey, stone-fronted lodge. Adjacent to the house was built a terrace garden, sunken garden and lawn, their layout still recognisable despite changes in the course of the garden's history. About 150m to the north-east of the house are the former stable block and smithy. To the north of the stable courtyard lay the walled garden, now an exhibition centre. This layout is shown on the first edition Ordnance Survey map (1888) which also portrays shelter belts and plantations, mostly conifers, surrounding the park. Around the north and east of the house is an arboretum. This, and its associated shelter belt, consist of exotic and mature tree species including Turkey Oak, Ginkgo Biloba, Western red cedar and European silver fir. The shelter belt extends southwards to the Long Plantation to the south of the park. The Venn Plantation is located to the northwest of the park.

The second edition Ordnance Survey map (1907) portrays, in addition to the above, a greenhouse, pheasantry, carriage drive, isolated geometric copses, walk, lodge and pond. The property was sold to the local authority in 1974 and is now the Scolton Heritage Park.

Sources:
Cadw 2002: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire (ref: PGW Dy25(PEM)).
Ordnance Survey 25-inch map, sheet Pembrokeshire XXIII.5 (editions of 1888 & 1907).

RCAHMW, 8 July 2022