Norton House History
This elegant house was built in 1790 to a high standard. The outer walls are finished in bath stone. The beautiful staircase is made of walnut. The ceilings were decorated by an Italian architect. A secret space was hidden behind one of the corner cupboards of the library, and under the courtyard was an iron stair way leading to an underground room and passage which is rumoured, led to Oystermouth castle.
In the 1830s the house belonged to John Jenkins. He died in 1838 and Susan Jenkins then became the new owner. She continued to own the house into the 1880s and always let it to tenants.
Susan's first tenants was George Gape and his family, who moved to Norton House from West Cross. He stayed until 1845.
Joyn Gwyn Jeffreys and his family were the next tenants. His father was a cousin of Captain Richard Jeffrey who rented Norton Lodge in the early 1830s. They were an old Breconshire family and well connected. One of their ancestors was a sister of Gabriel Powell the Duke of Beauforts powerful agent in Swansea. John was a solicitor and held a number of influential positions in Swansea and Gower. Including, the Country Clerk Bailiff of the Liberty of Gower Deputy Steward to the Duke of Beaufort and Under Sheriff. He left Norton House in 1854. He was called to the Bar and went to live in wear, Hertfordshire. At that time it was exceedingly difficult to move furniture any distance, so his expensive belongings were auctioned.
About that time, John Dillwyn Llewwlyn visited the house bringing his camera, he took two Victorian photographs at the house. It is not clear if the people on the lawn are the Jefferies, or the following tenants, Mr And Mrs Sydney Hall. Sydney Hall was a chartered engineer and manager of the patent fuel works. He was elected as a trustee of the Swansea Harbour Trust and was a member of the Swansea Board of Health and was elected to the Borough Council. However, he was fined £10 in 1861 for failing to attend the Assizes to do duty as a juryman.
By 1864 Montague Wilmot and his family were in Residence. They had previously lived in London and Switzerland and possibly came to Oystermouth as a place to retire. He was the son of Sir Robert Wilmot, Baronet of Derbyshire, and lived well. In 1871, there were five living in servants to look after five members of the family. In 1881 the recently widowed Sarah Wilmot had 6 servants for herself, 2 daughters and a visitor.
The next people to live at Norton House were the Glasbrooks. They were there in 1891, but it is not clear when they came, or whether the death in May 1887 of their father John Glasbrook Senior, Mayor of Swansea in 1871, had any relevance to the move to Norton House. Thomas, John and Isaac owned collieries around Swansea. John was also a director of a Gaslight and Coke Company. Sydney, the youngest brother, was more involved with the Glasbrook, Son & Company, timber merchants. Their sister, Margaret, also lived with them. Their staff consisted of 2 general servants and a cook. Thomas was killed in April 1893 when his horse threw him onto the track of the Mumbles Railway.
By 1914, Lieut. Col. John James Jones J.P. was living at Norton House.
In the early 1920's, Dr Evans lived at the house and his daughter ran a small school using one of the stable block buildings. One of the pupils was Dorothy Martyn who recalls that there was only about eight children, including the Griffins from the corn chandler's shop.
By the late 1930's the house had been bought by David Hinds whose son later sold the garden between the house and the Mumbles Road for building and for a proposed by-pass of Mumbles.
During the Second World War, the house accommodated army personnel and then A.T.S girls.
In 1948, Mr. R Rees bought the property and it took on a new lease of life as Norton College, taking a small number of students, many from overseas, for tutoring for exams or to learn English. Amongst the students, who attended here, was a Prince from Siam and another from Zanzibar. This college lasted for ten years.
The house then became a Country Club, which was run in its later years by Mr. Reg Bateman. It became a venue for younger people to enjoy an evening out with a local band or a disco. By 1972 the club had become less profitable and around 1974 Claude and Emma Rossi bought the house which they completely renovated and turned it into a successful hotel and restaurant.
Mr. and Mrs Power bought the hotel in 1989 and it continued to thrive.
Norton House was then sold to Mr Martin Taylor and Mrs Wendy Taylor in 2007. During their time they built the beautiful garden room and the luxury Self-Catering apartments.
Current owners Paul and Karen Thomas see themselves as custodians of the hotel for the future. Their love and respect for the building is clear for all to see ......
and the story continues....
