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.