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| Pembrey Court Manor House (Cwrt Pembre), later known as Court Farm, is today little more than a ruin. It is, however, an important and unique reminder of the world that existed before the Industrial Revolution reshaped the Carmarthenshire countryside. |  Pembrey Court Manor House
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The site of the house may have been settled as early as 1361, though much of what remains is Tudor in origin. The only Elizabethan manor left in Carmarthenshire, it has seven distinctive rubble stone chimneystacks which would once upon a time have proved a valuable navigation tool for ships negotiating the treacherous Burry Estuary, but are now shrouded in rampant ivy. Nearby is a barn with a castellated frontage.
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The house would have been the most important property within the local parish and legend has it that Oliver Cromwell once stayed there. In the early 1700s, however, the house underwent drastic alterations to convert the single dwelling to a dwelling for two separate families. Substantial remodelling of the interiors led to walls windows and doors being removed, and further openings and divisions being introduced. The two homes were leased to a succession of different owners. 
It is hoped that a restored and revitalised Pembrey Court could provide the local community with a valuable resource that would fulfil any one of a variety of roles. Suggestions considered so far include developing the property as an arts centre and Elizabethan interpretive centre for schools and other visitors to the area.
The village of Pembrey became strategically significant in Norman times. As the Norman invaders pressed deeper into Wales, they created a chain of castles. The remains of a small castle or defended manor have been located in the proximity of the village square. It was not until the 18th century and the coal mining boom that Pembrey really developed. Located nine miles west of Llanelli, the village has a population of 3,748 and is home to a church consecrated in 1066.
During the World War Two, Pembrey was home to an RAF station and an ordinance factory. An RAF bombing range to the west of Pembrey Country Park continues to be used to this day and includes a sand dune forest and 1,000-acre nature reserve. Pembrey is also famed for its motor circuit and its stunning beaches attract many visitors.
This article can be found on the Internet at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/restoration/2006/wales_pembrey_court_01.shtml
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