page_title: Architecture of Wales
section_title: South Wales
hierarchical_section_title: Architecture of Wales / Neoclassicism and Greek revival architecture / South Wales
caption_attribution_description: English: Piercefield House, Monmouthshire, circa 1840. Painting by George Eyre Brooks
context_page_description: Architecture of Wales is an overview of architecture in Wales from the Medieval period to the present day, excluding castles and fortifications, ecclesiastical architecture and industrial architecture. It covers the history of domestic, commercial, and administrative architecture.
context_section_description: In south Wales Neo-classicism was introduced by the Gloucestershire architect Anthony Keck and by William Jernegan, an architect who established a practice at Swansea.  Keck who worked from Kings Stanley Gloucestershire may have worked with Sir Robert Taylor who would have introduced him to clients in Wales. He built a bow fronted house for Thomas Mansel Talbot (1747–1813) adjacent to Penrice Castle  in Glamorgan in 1773–1780. This building, though earlier than Samuel Wyatt's work in north Wales, lacks features such as the overarched windows.  However, the Orangery he also built for Thomas Mansel Talbot at Margam Abbey from 1787 to 1790,  exhibits a much more refined appreciation of Neo-classicism and may well be considered the best example of this architectural style in Wales. It is the largest Orangery in the British Isles of 17 continuous bays with vermiculated rustication to the more formal swags and arched windows.
  A house of considerable importance was Piercefield between Chepstow and St Arvans. Originally known for its gardens laid out by Valentine Morris, it was rebuilt in 1793 to plans prepared by Sir John Soane which were to be modified by Joseph Bonomi. It still retained a Palladian appearance with a massive central block and side pavilions. The side pavilions and curved colonnade of Tuscan columns were the additions made by Bononi after 1795. The house to-day is in a ruinous state.
caption: Piercefield House 1840
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