Ivy Tower

[Gaynor B]

Hi
I am researching another family, this time on behalf of a friend and we are a little puzzled. There are a couple of census records including the one of 1871 which show the family's address as being The Ivy Tower, Llantwit Juxta Neath...now as a Cardiff girl myself I don't know this area but my friend tells me that he remembers this place from his childhood growing up in the area and that as a falling down listed structure they couldn't possibly have lived in it. So can anyone shed any light on this please?
Thanks
Gaynor

[lizdb]

Picture of it here

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonna,_Neath

It might not have been falling down in 1871 - I doubt your friend remembers it from then!


Or look at
http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~waggy/Gnoll.htm

11th "box" down says it was built in 1790.

And according to
http://www.spanglefish.com/neathheritage/index.asp?pageid=470512
Dr Who has been there!

[Gaynor B]

Hi

Yes you're right, he isn't quite that old haha! What I meant was that it doesn't look like something that would have been lived in even in 1871 but apparently there are other records of the family being there so I guess they must have....just thought there may be someone out there with local knowledge who could throw some light on it! Thanks for pictures, hey if I'd known I could have got The Doctor to check it out for me!!

Gaynor

[bernard_lewis]

Still standing but, last time I looked, overgrown with ivy etc.

There is a painting in the visitor centre at the Gnoll Park that looks to me as if it might be based on an old photo. From memory it shows people at the tower though whether they are living there I don't know. I thought it was a 'folly' built to act as a rest place for the gentry when they took lengthy walks around the estate.

Bernard