Fire crews were called to Rheola House in the Upper Neath Valley between Glynneath and Resolven at around 4.50pm on Tuesday, August 18. A spokeswoman for the fire service described the fire as being 'well alight'. Crews accompanied by a water dower remained on the scene into the evening due to the unsafe nature of the structure.
Building Totally Gutted
Drone pictures from the site show how the main house has been totally gutted, including the stone-built servants quarters and coach house adjacent to it. The site also includes an entrance lodge, cottage and ice house which appear to have been unaffected, and the surrounding land did not suffer any fire damage.
Over the years the empty building has been the subject of many 'urban explorer' online videos, with trespassers breaking into the private site to film and broadcast and even investigate the property's reputation as being haunted.
Historic Significance
The mansion was one of Wales' most treasured properties, designed by the famous architect John Nash, whose work includes designs for London's Marble Arch, Regent Street and Regent's Park, the redesign of Buckingham Palace and remodelling of Brighton's Royal Pavilion. The house was awarded the higher level star listing by Cadw, which approximately only 7% of listed buildings achieve.
The reason for the higher grade listing in 1973 was that the house is 'an important early C19 country house in the picturesque tradition'. The house was built between 1812 and 1818 'almost certainly by John Nash for his cousin John Edwards' who had family connections to the Neath area. Original and period features inside now lost include the sweeping Georgian staircase, wall panelling, and ornate plasterwork.
Recent History and Ownership
Around 1939 it is reported that the estate was bought by the British Aluminium Company and used as offices, with an industrial aluminium works built on the land. The factory and associated industrial buildings were closed and demolished in 1981. Much of the hard standing remained and was used as a site for a market and car boot sale, and was said to be the largest indoor market and car boot sale in Wales at the time.
Planning permission was granted for a mixed use leisure led scheme in December 2011 for part of the site to include the construction of 46 residential units, together with a holiday park and leisure facility. In 2018 the site was put up for auction with Paul Fosh Auctions with a guide price of £300,000-£350,000. At that time the Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council local development plan allocated the site for a tourism-led regeneration scheme.
Although in a rundown state when it was placed on the market in 2021 with an asking price of £750,000, it was not derelict and was marketed as having obvious potential for renovation and conversion. The property is currently owned by The Brook Group who posted on Instagram in February 2024, accompanied by an image of the proposed plans for the site, 'One of our most ambitious schemes to date is currently progressing through planning. The Rheola Estate spans across 110+ acres and proposals include 295 lodges, restaurants, sports complex, commercial zones and the redevelopment of Rheola House into a boutique hotel'.
Arrests Made
A statement from South Wales Police on Wednesday, 19 August reads: 'Four teenagers have been arrested in connection with a deliberate fire set at a grade II-listed building in the Neath Valley yesterday.' A 17-year-old boy from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, a 19-year-old man from Gendros, Swansea and an 18-year-old man from Waunarlwydd, Swansea, have all been arrested on suspicion of arson and are currently in police custody. An 18-year-old man from Cadoxton, Neath Port Talbot, has been arrested on suspicion of arson as well as possession of a knife blade in a public place.
