The house was originally built in 1750 and owned by the Owens of Orielton who were the Landshipping Coal Agents.

This building would have been a simple rectangular design with an entrance facing south-west, before several alterations occurred.

[2] The original house was built in about 1750 by the Owen family of Orielton who owned coal mines in the area.

He had inherited the property from his cousin Sir Hugh Owen[4] who had died young and unmarried.

[5] The problem had started long before this when Sir Hugh's mother who for many years was trustee of the Estate found that she did not have or would not provide sufficient funds for the upkeep of the Landshipping house.

Therefore, in 1790 she arranged for the main rooms at “Great House” to be closed and the furniture covered in dust sheets.

[6] In 1830 Sir John Owen commissioned an architect to make major alterations and additions to the smaller house near the Quay (red arrow).

A third storey was added to the western wing, and the entrance was moved to the North facade between two bow-fronted full height extensions.

He and his son Hugh were both Members of Parliament and needed a great deal of money to retain their seats.

[13] At the age of 14, Mary Ann, the only child and heiress of the wealthy Sir Edmond Stanley, ran off with Captain Edward Trant Bontein to Gretna Green where they married.

In 2002 Big House appeared in This Land, a network BBC TV series directed by Richard Traylor-Smith, as Alun Lewis and then partner Sarah Hoss and their children moved to the site to begin the project;[1] then again in 2005 the family were featured with their project in the BBC TV series Magic Harbours presented by Jamie Owen.

[24][1] In 2011, the project featured on episode six of the BBC television series Restoration Home, presented by Caroline Quentin.