Malpas Court
| Malpas Court | |
|---|---|
 "the first completely new mansion designed by T. H. Wyatt"[1] | |
 Interactive map of the Malpas Court area | |
General information | |
| Type | Country house |
Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| Location | Malpas, in Newport, Wales |
Completed | c.1838 |
| Client | Thomas Prothero |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
Official name | Malpas Court |
| Designated | 21 March 1997 |
| Reference no. | 18285 |
Malpas Court is a Grade II listed, 19th-century country house in the community of Malpas, in Newport, Wales.
History
[edit]
Malpas Court was built between 1834 and 1838 by T. H. Wyatt for Thomas Prothero, a local businessman and agent to Sir Charles Morgan's Tredegar Estate.[2] Prothero was an opposer of John Frost and Chartism, for which Frost publicly reprimanded him on numerous occasions.[3] In c.1849, Prothero offered £500 towards the rebuilding of the nearby Church of St. Mary, Malpas, on the condition that it was rebuilt closer to Malpas Court; when his offer was rejected, he reduced his contribution to £250.[4][1] Thomas Prothero died in 1853.[5] The Prothero family resided at the house until 1916 when it was sold to L. W. Llewelyn (1874–1924), a director of mining companies.[6] Llewelyn sold the house in 1924 on moving to Llanfrechfa Grange, from which point it seems to have been vacant until 1939, when a Kelly's Directory gives it as being occupied by George Workman, a caretaker.[6]
During the Second World War, the house was used by American military personnel and around 100 Nissen huts were erected in the grounds.[6][7] In 1947, the property was bought by Newport Borough Council following which the grounds were developed into a housing estate and the house itself into a social club.[6] In the 1980s, the house was used as a betting shop and was in a state of disrepair.[6] In 1997, the house was designated as a Grade II listed building and in the 21st-century was restored aided by grants of £2.7m from the European Regional Development Fund and £750,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.[8] As of 2026, the house is leased by the council for conferences.[5]
Architecture
[edit]
Malpas Court was built between 1834 and 1838 of brown rock-faced stone in the Tudor Revival style.[2][a] Cadw suggests that Wyatt may have been inspired by the nearby Llantarnam Abbey in his design.[2] In his Gwent/Monmouthshire volume in the Pevsner Buildings of Wales series, John Newman states that Malpas Court was "the first completely new mansion designed by T. H. Wyatt".[1] To the left of the main entrance is a polygonal castellated tower. Malpas Court was designated as a Grade II listed building on 21 March 1997 as "a substantial early C19 house in the Tudor style, by a well-known architect of regional importance".[2]
Notes
[edit]- ↑ In his Gwent/Monmouthshire volume in the Pevsner Buildings of Wales series, John Newman narrows the date down to 1836 to 1838.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 Newman, John (2000). Gwent/Monmouthshire. The Buildings of Wales. London: Penguin Books. pp. 375, 377. ISBN 0140710531.
- 1 2 3 4 Cadw. "Malpas Court (18285)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- ↑ "Prothero, Thomas". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. National Library of Wales.
- ↑ Cadw. "Parish Church of St. Mary (Grade II) (21942)". National Historic Assets of Wales. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- 1 2 "Malpas Court". www.cityofnewport.wales. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Malpas Court Newport - A Mansion Built For Thomas Prothero". www.newportpast.com. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- ↑ Boucher, Brooke (19 April 2020). "Memories of when American GIs marched into Newport". South Wales Argus. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- ↑ "Malpas Court opens doors after multi-million revamp". South Wales Argus. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 14 May 2026.