The house from an 1835 print
Earlier Houses: A medieval palace of the bishops of Llandaff was here, probably from the late 14th century. This building was added to and altered in the 15th, 16th, and 18th centuries. Significant portions of this house were incorporated into the current palace. Mathern remained in ecclesiastical use until 1763, when the bishop moved permanently to Cardiff.
House & Family History: In the late 19th century the house was rebuilt and restored by H. Avray Tipping, the architectural editor of "Country Life" magazine, as a home for himself and his mother. During World War I the palace was used to house Belgian refugees. In the 1950s Mathern was sold to the Llanwern steelworks for use as a guest house, a purpose the house continued to serve (under the ownership of British Steel Corporation) until the early 21st century. Mathern Palace was listed for sale in 2001 for £2 million and is today a private home.
Architect: Eric Carwardine Francis
Date: Circa 1905Architect: Thomas Woodward
Date: 1730sArchitect: Edward Woodward
Date: 1730sArchitect: Henry Avray Tipping
Date: 1894Country Life: CLXVI, 2154, 1979.
House Listed: Grade I
Park Listed: Grade II
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT EARLIER HOUSE: Bishop John de la Zouch, early 15th century. Bishop John Marshall, late 15th century. SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: George Carwardine Francis, 1889-94. Henry Avray Tipping, 1897-1911. Colonel D.J.C. McNabb, early 20th century. Richard Thomas, mid-20th century.
Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
House Open to Public: No
Historic Houses Member: No