Margam Orangery

Margam Orangery

A long single-storey building in classical style, constructed of ashlar with a front elevation of 27 windows flanked by single-window pavilions. The roof is slate, partly hidden by a cornice, with an attic above the central bays featuring slate-hung sides, an impost band and plinth.

The front elevation is rusticated and vermiculated between impost and sill level. The tall round-headed window openings have vermiculated voussoirs and high plain keystones. The windows have been replaced with multi-pane glazing with radial lights beneath the heads. A crowning Doric cornice with metope and triglyph frieze is surmounted by urns with swags. The central five bays are stepped forward with square stone bases in front of the angles, perhaps for statues, and the inner three bays are advanced further. A flat-headed attic frieze enriched with seven bucrania and swags is surmounted by urns.

The flanking pavilions are slightly advanced with triangular pediments surmounted by acroteria and urns. Each contains a Venetian window within a blind recessed arch, with sashes inside. An impost band with a frieze of Vitruvian scrolls is supported on round columns flanking the inner windows. The metope and triglyph frieze continues from the main range below each pediment and around the sides of the pavilions. The scrolled impost band also continues around the sides.

Each side has a central Venetian doorway. The east doorway contains half-lit double doors, whilst the west has a single half-lit door. Both are approached by stone steps bounded by ashlar walls with moulded copings.

The rear is constructed of rubble stone with quoins and plinth. Towards the centre is a wide full-height entrance with a panelled door within a gabled porch, partly rebuilt with a weather-boarded gable. Flanking stone stacks are present. Late 20th-century lean-tos flank the rear to left and right, with shuttered doors, vents and stacks. The lean-to to the right has a catslide roof with skylights and continues to the west pavilion. Shorter lean-tos are positioned to the left. The rear of the pavilions is also of rubble masonry with quoins, plinth and gables. The impost band continues around from the sides but is undecorated.

Interior

The main range has been converted for new uses. A glass screen divides a banqueting hall to the west, which includes the large rear doorway and further doors to kitchen areas, from an exhibition area to the east, which retains a stone-paved floor. Between every four windows is a narrow circular shaft with two rings and a fluted capital.

The pavilions are decorated in Adam style, with the west pavilion being more ornate. Access to the main range from each pavilion is through a Venetian doorway matching the exterior doorways. Each has a half-lit door and side lights with sashes, and panelled reveals which fold out to form shutters.

The east pavilion forms the current entrance. The side lights are flanked by pilasters supporting dentilled lintels. The pilasters are supported on pedestals which continue around the room as a low dado. To the north is a moulded stone fireplace in classical style with a flat cornice containing dentils and a central small motif with an urn in relief. It contains a cast-iron fireplace with fluted decoration. The room has a moulded dentilled ceiling cornice.

The west pavilion is lined in Adam-style plasterwork in the form of orders, incorporating the Venetian doors and window. The blind arches, formerly recessed to shelve books, are decorated with anthemion and spring from lintels supported on pilasters with pedestals below. The lintels are dentilled and the pilasters have recessed panels and fluted capitals. Blind arches flank the doorways to the east and west. Beneath each is a moulded fan above a frieze of swags which continues from the lintels. The north and south walls each have a single large arch, within which is a fireplace and window respectively. The moulded ceiling cornice is fitted with a frieze of griffins, drapes and lamps. An Adam-style coloured marble fireplace of pink and green marble with a flat cornice contains a cast-iron fireplace with scrolled and foliate decoration.