Hendrefoilan

Hendrefoilan is an area in Swansea, South Wales. The area overlaps northwest Sketty and east Killay communities.

The western part is often known as 'Student Village', which lies on the west bank of the Olchfa Stream, in the suburb of Killay. It was part of a satellite campus of Swansea University and consisted of a number of flats which were let out to university students. However, in 2022 the site was sold, and as of 2024 is being developed as a modern housing estate.

History

Hendrefoelan House

Hendrefolan House (front of) photographed in 2020, derelict and boarded up

Hendrefolan House (rear of) photographed in 2020, derelict and boarded up

The main feature on the campus is Hendrefoelan House, a large private house built in 1853 by William B. Colling for Lewis Llewelyn Dillwyn (1814–92) then the Member of Parliament for Swansea^[1] and home for many years to his daughter, the novelist and industrialist Amy Dillwyn.^[2] The house housed the South Wales Miners' Library from the 1980s until 2006, when it was moved to the Coach House, also on the campus.^[3] It also formerly housed the Adult Education Department of Swansea University, but has been boarded up and left derelict.

The building was sold to a private owner on 16 December 2020^[4] for £350,000,^[5] but while the house was being renovated by the new owners, a large fire broke out on 27 March 2022, causing significant damage to the building.^[6] Aerial photographs on Google Maps, taken the following year, reveal extensive damage to the house, with most of the roof of the main house destroyed and damage to the upper floor.^[7]

The eastern part is sometimes known as the "Hendrefoilan Estate". It is within the community of Sketty, and part of the Tycoch electoral polling district, although it would not be considered "culturally" part of Tycoch. The area has an SA2 7** postcode, and is hence considered by Royal Mail to be within the Killay/Dunvant area. It is bounded by the Olchfa Stream to the west, the Gower Road to the south, and University Perimeter fence and Hendrefoilan Road to the north. The area consists of suburban housing.

References

1. "Hendrefoilan House, Sketty, Swansea". The Victorian Society. 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012.
2. Bohata, Kirsti (2019-10-02). "DILLWYN, ELIZABETH AMY (1845 - 1935), novelist, industrialist and feminist campaigner". Dictionary of Welsh Biography. Archived from the original on 2020-09-24.
3. "South Wales Miners' Library". Swansea University. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2012.
4. "What is happening at the gothic mansion hidden amongst its own overgrown gardens in Swansea?". Wales Online. 2021-01-18.
5. "Hendrefoilan House transaction record". Land Registry. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
6. "Hendrefoilan House fire: Firefighters tackle Swansea blaze". BBC News. 2022-03-28.
7. "Aerial photograph of Hendrefoilan House". Google Maps. Retrieved 2024-11-08.

51.6223°N 4.00368°W / 51.6223; -4.00368