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House Site, Middleton Hall, Llanarthney

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NPRN412598
Map ReferenceSN51NW
Grid ReferenceSN5274518208
Unitary (Local) AuthorityCarmarthenshire
Old CountyCarmarthenshire
CommunityLlanarthney
Type Of SiteCOUNTRY HOUSE
Period17th Century
Description
Site of the original 17th century Middleton Hall, the home of the Middleton Family from the turn of the 17th century until 1776. The hall was built by Christopher Middleton, with records from the hearth tax of 1676 indicating it was one of the larger houses in the area.

The archaeological remains for the hall comprise an earthwork platform situated at the corner of a field sloping away from the shallow gorge of the Afon Gwynon, just north of the 1930s tenant farm buildings of Waun Las. The platform is roughly square in shape some 70m x 70m. It is partially cut on its southern side by a later drainage ditch, whilst a later track also runs across it. The western edge of the platform was terraced to create part of the associated formal garden (NPRN 418692). On the southern half of the platform are faint earthwork traces associated with the site of the Hall.

Geophysical survey over the platform in 2011 provided evidence for the hall's foundations, suggesting a north-south aligned house facing west. Subsequently, a small trial excavation revealed a robber trench, building debris together with an original cobbled surface. It would appear that the house had been demolished and material removed presumably for re-use, most likely following Sir William Paxton's purchase of the estate in 1787/9. Paxton's new house, also known as Middleton Hall (NPRN 17569), was built to the west of this hall.

In 2011 archaeological investigations at the site formed part of a Heritage Lottery funded project. They were carried out by the National Botanic Garden Wales, University of Wales Trinity St David, University of Swansea and the Royal Commission.

Louise Barker, RCAHMW, April 2013