sinnerman
01-02-2011, 07:21 PM
I never knew Bridgend had a heritage day, but then i didnt know Bridgend had any heritage beyond too many castles, So I was quite surprised to visit this little jem and quite lucky the last time it was opened for visitors was 12 years ago. Advertised as the town's oldest habitable building and south wales first health care facility, both are a bit dubious, St Johns Hospital is rummored to be a Hospital of the Knights of St John the Knights Hospitiler. Built to provide a safe place to say for pilgrims on route to St Davids.
The building dates from the 1550's but as the Monestry at Margam who's monks are said to have run the hospital was dissolved in 1537 i cant see how this is anymore than a local legend. The name probebly comes from the St John's ambulance hall which was built behind the building in the 1930's. The origin of the building was more likely as home for a wealthy merchant as it has some lovely original oak wood carved ceiling a huge inglenook and three stone staircase built into its walls all quite expensive when it was built.
The building is listed as Grade II* but has planning permission for coversion to flats, luckly the owners have hung back on the conversion for 10 yeas whil the civic trust try to find an alternative plan for the buildings future.
And it a lot bigger than it looks
Piccys :-
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn01.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn02.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn03.jpg
Two solid stone carvings that used to be on the exterior of the building, Mixing Chrstian and Heraldrdic symbols of the local nobility, these probebrly started the links to the Hospitilars.
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn04.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn05.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn06.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn07.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn08.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn09.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn10.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn11.jpg
The building dates from the 1550's but as the Monestry at Margam who's monks are said to have run the hospital was dissolved in 1537 i cant see how this is anymore than a local legend. The name probebly comes from the St John's ambulance hall which was built behind the building in the 1930's. The origin of the building was more likely as home for a wealthy merchant as it has some lovely original oak wood carved ceiling a huge inglenook and three stone staircase built into its walls all quite expensive when it was built.
The building is listed as Grade II* but has planning permission for coversion to flats, luckly the owners have hung back on the conversion for 10 yeas whil the civic trust try to find an alternative plan for the buildings future.
And it a lot bigger than it looks
Piccys :-
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn01.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn02.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn03.jpg
Two solid stone carvings that used to be on the exterior of the building, Mixing Chrstian and Heraldrdic symbols of the local nobility, these probebrly started the links to the Hospitilars.
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn04.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn05.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn06.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn07.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn08.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn09.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn10.jpg
http://www.forlornbritain.co.uk/images/28/stjohns/stjohn11.jpg