Hendrefoelan House and its extensive grounds and gardens was built in1855, at a cost of 14000, by Lewis Llewellyn Dillwyn, who was MP for Swansea. Lewis Llewellyn was a prominent citizen of Swansea, for as well as being MP for Swansea for nearly 40 years, he was also Mayor in 1848, owner of Cambrian Pottery, head of the firm of Dillwyn and Richards at the Landore spelter works, and he later became Chairman of the Siemens Steel Company.
Following Lewis Llewellyn's death in 1892, Hendrefoelan was left to his eldest daughter's son, John Illtyd Dillwyn Nicoll. After Word War 1 it was bought by Sir John Edwards, a local industrialist, and in 1964, his widow sold it to the University College of Swansea. It became the nucleus of the College's Department of Education. Today the house houses the South Wales Miners' Library, and teaching for the Department of Adult and Continuing Education (DACE) is held there.
From the guide to the Plans of Hendrefoelan House (copies), 1st April 1964, (Swansea University)
