It passed through inheritance to members of the Edwards, Vaughan, and Lee families, until in 1939, with the house becoming run down, it was bought by an aluminium company for use as offices, and part of the land was put to industrial uses.

There was a water mill in the vicinity of the current house in Norman times or earlier, utilising the power of Rheola Brook.

[4] By the late 18th century, there was a farmhouse on the site, and was part of the huge estates of Sir Herbert Mackworth of Gnoll Castle.

John Edwards junior was by this point in close contact with Nash, handling all his legal affairs through his London solicitors practice.

The local landed gentry, unimpressed by the idea of an outsider and a mere solicitor representing them, ensured a preferred candidate, Sir Christopher Cole, was elected.

Capitalising on his Neath valley residence and Welsh ancestry, Edwards stood as one who would stand up against the clique of landed gentry.

He appealed to lesser gentry, industrialists and professional men, and was, uniquely for a county seat, elected against the interests of the leading landowners, who duly snubbed him.

[13] The grounds by 1899 included orchard, woodland with vista paths, parkland, greenhouses, conservatory, carriage drive, kitchen garden, and pheasantry.

A chapel (later demolished) had been built, overlooking the lake,[6] and substantial ornamental tree planting in the park from the period still survives.

However World War II broke out before the generators were imported from Switzerland, so the smelting plant attempted to run using national grid electricity, and this was discontinued by 1943.

[18] The industrial activity had involved an area of hardstanding covering almost 10 hectares (25 acres), which then was used for screening coal from the nearby coalmines.

[1] By 1981 it had ceased to be needed for coal screening, and the estate was sold to local construction and demolition company RM Rees.