St. John's House

St John’s House is a Grade II* listed building and, we believe, Bridgend’s oldest habitable house, situated in the Newcastle Hill conservation area, the oldest part of Bridgend. Further up the hill are Newcastle Castle, The Square and St Illtyd's Church. The house is owned and managed by a local charity, the St John's House Trust.

It is a hearth-passage house, which has a main hall and fireplace backing onto a central passage.  The oak used in the house was felled in the 1511/12 growing season.  

There is a local tradition that the building was connected with the Knight’s Hospitallers, but there is no evidence to support this.  It is thought that it was a stopping off place for pilgrims on their way to St David’s. 

We know details of some of the owners and occupiers from the late 18^th Century onwards. Walter Coffin was a major landowner in Bridgend, his wealth coming from a productive tannery. He was also connected by marriage to the Price family of Llangeinor, who included the famous philosopher Richard Price and his nephew William Morgan one of the founding fathers of actuarial practice.

In the nineteenth century, the house was leased to various parties, and the property was subdivided with two extended families living in either half. In 1919, the then owner Abraham Lewis sold the building to the Order of St John of Jerusalem who, in turn, sold it to a firm of architects in the 1990s. The Trust opened the house monthly for the owners until 2023 when the Trust purchased the property on behalf of the people of Bridgend.

Entry is free and the house contains a number of quirky collections from impressive quilts, intricate love spoons and historic irons. It is perfect for a family outing with activities for children - traditional toys, dressing up and brass rubbing. There is a varied programme of exhibitions of art and crafts. The gift shop features many local craft items. There is a programme of bookable events throughout the year.