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History
The history of Caer Beris is long and varied. The name itself could either
be from the Caer Peris of the Nennius manuscript or from the name Brewys,
the Welsh spelling of the first Norman Lord.
Pasgent ap Gwrtheyrn, King of Beallt and Gwrtheyrn, established his court
here in 406 a.d. After he was killed at the Battle of St. Davids by Uthyr
Pendragon, his son Bragaid was allowed to keep the family lands and stayed
with them until at least 745 a.d. when Ffernfael ap Tewdwr was King.
The Vikings ransacked the area in 896.a.d. but with the coming of the
Normans another castle was built at Caer Beris in 1093 a.d. by Philip
Brewys.. The castle was re-fortified in 1210. a.d. The castle was besieged
many times over the years and all that now remains are the earthworks and
approaches. These are now classified as an Ancient Monument.
Coming forward a few centuries to 1896 and Captain Charles Gam
Harcourt-Wood of the 15th Hussars, turned Caer Beris into a
sporting estate. He had married Lina Styleman and this was to
be the family home. An extension housing a library and billiard
room with master bedrooms above was built using adze cut elm.
The dining room was rearranged to accommodate the oak paneling
dating from about 1570.
The third Lord Swansea bought the house
in 1923 and developed the grounds and gardens.
Many of the trees and shrubs coming from their estate at Singleton Park.
The estate was broken up in the 1970's with the cottages and stables being
sold off separately.
The main Manor was being used as a clubhouse when the
current owners Peter and Katharine Smith began the task of restoring the
building and making it into a Country House Hotel. Rooms that had once been
the butlers Pantry, Servants Hall, Boot Room and Orangery are now letting
bedrooms. The original swing bridge over the river has been rebuilt and an
orchards of Old English varieties of apples has been planted. More
importantly a historic old house which had fallen into a bad state of repair
is well on the road to recovery. The Manor is now a grade 2 listed building.
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