History

The once splendid Van Mansion was probably built
in the early sixteenth century and was the home of
Edward Lewis, a wealthy member of the local
gentry. The first record of the Van dates to around
1539, when antiquarian John Leland describes it.

In 1583 Thomas Lewis heir to the estate, was
granted the lease of the then abandoned
Caerphilly Castle. He was also given permission
to make free and unlimited use of its stone to
improve the Van. Thus, some of its carved and
faced stone is recognisably from the Castle and
is said to be marked with thirteenth century masons
marks.

The Lewis family was regularly involved in feuds with other local gentry, including the Prichards of Llancaiach Fawr Manor. In the early seventeenth century, William Lewis was accused of abducting Edward Prichard’s fourteen year old daughter and coercing her into marriage in his parlour. This reputedly resulted
in a violent brawl outside St. Catwgs Church, Gelligaer.The Lewis family was renowned for its acquisition of land and the family held estates throughout Wales and England, including St. Fagans, Cardiff. It was this that resulted in the eventual demise of the Van.


In the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century, ThomasLewis’ political life in England kept him from Wales. When he did visit he favoured his St. Fagans home. It was around this time that part of the Manor was converted into a farm and the remainder was left to fall into ruin.

In 1730 the house and estate passed to the Earl of Plymouth by marriage and remained part of the family’s Estate until 1991. It has recently been converted into private flats and houses.