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Scolton Manor

near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire

Scolton or ‘Scaneton’ is first mentioned in 1326 in the Black Book of St David’s, a volume describing all the lands held by the Bishop of St Davids. In the book it states that Scolton and three other tenements once belonged to a Knight called Sir Guy de Bryan, but then reverted to the Bishop’s ownership.

The family linked to Scolton is the Higgon family, and the first Higgons to move to Scolton were originally from Carmarthenshire and arrived here around 1600. Their first house, a Tudor Manor, is believed to have existed on the site, which is now Home Farm, just next door. This was unfortunately struck by lightning and burned to the ground in the middle of the 18th century. The family then moved to Haverfordwest where they remained for nearly 100 years. During their time in Haverfordwest they became involved in local politics and they also became friendly with a local firm of architects, builders and cabinetmakers, William and James Owen. It is this firm that designed, built and furnished the existing house at Scolton for James Higgon. Plans were drawn up in 1833 and the house was completed in 1842, and lived in by the Higgon family until 1972.

The family were wealthy landowners in their own right but it is thought that what persuaded James Higgon to relocate to Scolton was possibly the extra income being made from coal mining. The Higgons owned land around the St Brides Bay area of Pembrokeshire, including Nolton Haven and Newgale, where fairly extensive coal mining was taking place. As the family owned the land they didn’t have to invest in the industry, but could take up to a third of the profit - a nice little earner!

The cost of the House

The original estimate was for £2,260 however, the family decided to enlarge the cellar and turn the attic into servant’s quarters at an additional cost of around £600, bringing the total cost of Scolton to just under £3,000.

By 1972 the house had become unmanageable. Built with servants in mind it was no longer a suitable home for the remaining family members and it was decided to auction it off. With assistance from the Church of Wales, it was purchased by Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC). Unfortunately most of the furniture was sold off and only a few original items remain. Most of the furniture on display is on permanent loan from St Fagan’s, with some being acquired locally, for example the hall stand was acquired from Sealyham House.

During World War II the house was used as a convalescent home. Mrs Higgon refused to move herself and her family out, and she was made Commandant of the hospital. During this time a lady from Nassau donated an Ambulance to the home, to take the men for their check-ups in the County Hospital, Haverfordwest. As a way of saying thank you, it was decided to send the lady a photograph of Mrs Higgon and the men outside the House and Ambulance. The men were not that seriously ill, so to make it look a little more convincing some of them were ‘treated’ for the occasion by being heavily bandaged. Apparently it worked, as for the duration of the war Scolton Manor received regular food parcels from the ‘very nice lady’ In the Outer Hall  is a portrait is of the last resident of Scolton, Lt. Col. John Henry Victor Higgon OBE, JP. It was painted from a photograph whilst Col. Higgon was a prisoner of war in France in 1941. Col. “Jack” was Master of the Pembrokeshire Hounds, as was his father and grandfather. The family’s military service enabled them to travel to places such as Africa and India, and the ‘trophies’ collected on hunting trips were sent home to be displayed on the walls at Scolton. At least three members of the Higgon Family were sheriffs of the County of Pembroke, the first being John Higgon in 1793. In their capacity as Sheriff, they would play host to the Assize Court Judges when they came to the County and when the Courts were opened in Haverfordwest the servants of the estate would dress up in their livery and form a guard of honour carrying the Spontoons. The Staircase in the Inner Hall is cantilevered, each step being supported by the one below. The ornamental rail was an extra feature, at a cost of £10. Both the staircase and floor are made of Bath sandstone There are portraits of Major John Arthur Higgon, the father of the last resident, and he is dressed in the uniform of the Pembroke Yeomanry. He was killed in France 1916. Next to him is a portrait of his Australian wife, Lurline. Oval portraits are of members of a family called Findlay, their fifth daughter, Susan Stirling Findlay, married into a family called Ridsdale and was to become mother-in-law to the first wife of the last resident. The other artwork around the house is part of the PCC art collection, including a portrait of Carl Linnaeus, an 18th century Swedish botanist credited with the modern classification of plants. Scolton or ‘Scaneton’ is first mentioned in 1326 in the Black Book of St David’s, a volume describing all the lands held by the Bishop of St Davids.

In the Drawing Room are original fittings, including the chandelier. Scolton was one of the first houses in Pembrokeshire to have electricity, being powered by a generator housed in one of the outhouses. This was only used for lighting. When the last refurbishment took place some original wall covering was found behind the large mirror. This was sent to the Victoria and Albert Museum to be analysed. The hand blocked paper could have been reproduced but at a cost of £2,000 for the block and £70 for each roll of paper, this was too expensive so a firm specialising in reproducing Victorian wallpapers, called Halls, were contacted and they produced the current paper. In this room are two watercolours of members of the Higgon family, one of Rev. William Henry Higgon, and the other is of John Donald George Higgon who was 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery (1851) and Grandfather to the last resident.

There are also larger portraits of members of the Ridsdale family - Edward and Esther Ridsdale, and their son Edward. Next to him is his wife Susan Stirling Ridsdale nee Findlay and there’s a small portrait is of Lucy Walter who came from Roch Castle and was to become Mistress to Charles II, after meeting him in exile in Holland. She bore him a son, James, who later became Duke of Monmouth.

The writing desk was made for Henry Owen, son of William Owen the builder of Scolton, by the Guild and School of Handicraft in 1892. The Library was, by day, the family’s “living room”. The shelves and secretaire in this room are original, however the fireplace is not, being added in around 1934 in a mock Tudor style.

The dining room was decorated in red, due to its ability to create warmth as well as being able to disguise stains. The dinning chairs are an original feature, made in Ireland to a Chippendale design. The portraits above the fireplace are The Art School c1900 by an unknown artist, and The Tenby Fisherwoman by William Powell Frith 1880.

The Green Baize door represented a dividing line between the family part of the house and the servant’s quarters, this door also provided soundproofing from the noise in the kitchen.

A network of cords and bells were originally used to summon servants, until the introduction of electricity allowed the cords to be replaced by buttons and an indicator board.

The hooks on the ceiling of the Kitchen were part of a pulley system used for drying clothes. The light blue colour on the walls is original, and was chosen firstly for coolness and secondly because Mrs Beaton’s famous book of Household Management suggested that light blue was a deterrent for flies. The kitchen range is not an original feature. It comes from Poyston Hall, but is similar in design with the only difference being the original for this house was a double oven. The dresser is an original item, having been built in the kitchen. In larger houses, where the size of the dresser would accommodate them, the scullery maid would have slept in the bottom of the dresser. The original outhouses were accessible through the now blocked doorway.

On the floor of the Scullery can be seen an early carpet cleaner. The scullery maid would have used this room to wash and prepare the vegetables and meat for the cook, and also carried out the washing up.

The Wine Cellar is original, however the storage compartment, larder and laundry have all been set up for educational purposes. The originals would have been in the outhouses off the kitchen.

The Nanny’s Room & Day Nursery was originally a dressing room next to a bedroom, now the Day Nursery. Again these rooms have been set up for display purposes. In the Day Nursery, the large musical box on the floor is in need of restoration, and if money becomes available this work will be carried out.

The bookshelves on the landing are an original feature. Archibald Bellairs Higgon (brother of Major John Arthur Higgon) was also killed in the First World War in 1915, and shot the two Barasinghs hanging above the stairs, in Kashmir.

The large wardrobe in the Dressing Room is original and the metal object standing on the floor is a cover for a heater.

The light green colour on the walls of the Master Bedroom is original. The bed is a Half Tester and was acquired from Bush House, in Pembroke Dock. Jane Lesley Findlay, as a wedding present embroidered the bedspread for her sister Susan. The small desk by the window is a needlework table. On the back wall hangs a painting titled, The Milford Fishing Fleet. Above the fireplace is an original of The Surrender of French Troops at Goodwick, after The Last Invasion, 1797.