Sketty Hall
Sketty Hall 1792 by Thomas Rothwell. "A seat of R. Sheldon Esqr"
Sketty Hall, an important historical building in Swansea, Wales, has a storied past dating back to the early 18th century. The building, initially constructed in the 1720s, was commissioned by Rawleigh Dawkin, who later adopted the name Rawleigh Mansel. Dawkin was the son of the squire of Kilvrough in Gower. After his death, the property was passed to his brother, Mansel Dawkin, who also took on the Mansel surname. Significant architectural enhancements began in 1780 with the addition of bay windows, and further modifications were undertaken by the Swansea architect William Jernegan for Ralph Sheldon, an MP.
In the 1820s, Sketty Hall underwent a major transformation under the ownership of Charles Baring, a member of the London merchant banking family. Baring added an extra floor to the building and a parapet along the south front. In 1831, Lewis Weston Dillwyn, the owner of the Cambrian Pottery in Swansea, purchased the property. Dillwyn commissioned Edward Haycock Sr. to design a new entrance hall and a large adjoining room on the north side.
The hall's next significant owner was Frank Ash Yeo, chairman of the Swansea Harbour Trust, who added a dining room in 1881. In 1898, Glynn Vivian, a notable art collector from the influential Vivian family, bought Sketty Hall. Vivian added Italian marble masks, balconies, and ornamental gardens, and installed a belvedere on the roof.
During World War II, Sketty Hall was requisitioned as an ARP (Air Raid Precautions) headquarters. Post-war, it became a research center for the British Iron and Steel Research Association, contributing to the steel industry. The hall was extensively renovated in 1993, restoring much of its historical charm.
Today, Sketty Hall serves as a venue for social and business functions. It is set within the grounds of Singleton Park, which includes gardens that were listed at Grade I on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales in 2022. This designation underscores its significance not only as an architectural landmark but also as a site of historical and cultural importance.
