Sker House

Sker house viewed from Porthcawl this afternoon. This ancient house has undergone some restoration in the last few years. This is a brief history. The Great house at Sker situated between Kenfig and Porthcawl on the Bristol Channel coast and about two miles South of Margam and Port Talbot.
The Origins.
The Great House at Sker began its origins as a monastic grange over 900 years ago, farmed by members of the Cistercian order who chose to praise God through the work of their hands rather than by prayer.
The oldest masonry at Sker house belongs to this mediaeval period , but is so masked by later improvements it is difficult to discern the original form of the building. Part of the large barn known as Ty wr Ychen ( The oxen's house ) near to Sker house is also said to be medieval. Few traces of that earlier building now remain.
In the last quarter of the 16th century, during the time of Jenkin Turberville, this early house was massively altered. The original building had one storey, but was raised to include a first and second floor with quite spacious attics above. Once the Turberville's left, this great house became the property of absentee landlords at the home of their tenants. As such it tended to be neglected and abused by both , thus settling to a long slow decline and collapse of the south wing.
There is a lot more history available online.