Robert Mathew

See Peter Bartrum, https://cadair.aber.ac.uk/dspace/bitstream/handle/2160/5080/Gwaithf... (February 16, 2021; Anne Brannen, curator)

• Castell-Y-Mynach, Pentyrch, Glamorganshire, Wales http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/

Location On the S side of Creigiau, now completely surrounded by housing; rear courtyard reached by a short drive with walled garden to front and sides.

History C14/15, C16/17 and later. One of the largest late-medieval houses in the county, built for the Mathew family, reputedly Robert Mathew in C15. Formerly the two ranges formed S and E sides of a courtyard entered through the now blocked archway in E range, the area adjacent functioning as a gatehouse. Former garderobe projects from N end wall. In early C17 house was modernised probably for Thomas Mathew who was High Sheriff in 1614 and known as the bullying squire; this involved putting a floor into the hall, and substantial painted decoration of walls. Glamorgan Historian volume I also dates the cross wing to this period of expansion. The large barn range to N now converted into housing was built in 1616 with inscription TMK, the K probably referring to Katherine, a Morgan of Bedwellty who married into the family. The house was partly refenestrated in the C18/early C19 with stacks and external roof cover probably also renewed in C19. The Mathew family were owners of ironworkings in the Gwaelod y Garth area in C16 and the line ended in 1720.