The mansion stood on high ground near the confluence of the rivers Cleddau and Cresswell, above the northern bank of the latter. A short distance away is the parish church, the South Transept of which is called ‘The Lawrenny chapel’.

        In 1587-88, Wogan of Wiston was lord of the manor of Lawrenny, while the freeholds of the district were in possession of the powerful family of Barlow of Slebech, a cadet of which was seated at Cresswell. The first to own Lawrenny appears to have been William Barlow of Cresswell, High Sheriff in 1612, who died in 1636 and was buried at Lawrenny. His son Lewis Barlow of Cresswell and Lawrenny, was High Sheriff in 1641 and 1668. Lewis’s son John Barlow was High Sheriff in 1386, and a John Barlow was High Sheriff in 1705. The last named John Barlow was MP for Haverfordwest, and by his wife Anne daughter of Sir Hugh Owen, 2nd Baronet, of Orielton, had issue. Lewis Barlow was assessed at nine hearths in 1670 which denotes that Lawrenny was then one of the largest mansions in the county.

        The last male generation of the Barlows, Hugh Barlow, died without issue in 1763, and his wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Arthur Owen of Orielton lived at Lawrenny till her death in 1788, and was buried with her husband in the parish church. Her sister-in-law, Anne Barlow had married Wyrriot Owen of Great Nash, and it was their son Hugh Owen who succeeded to Lawrenny, and took the surname Barlow.

        Anne’s youngest sister, Dorothy Barlow married John Lort of Pricaston and their daughter Elizabeth Lort married in 1767 George Phillips, MP., of Haverfordwest, and their descendants ultimately succeeded to Lawrenny, namely the Lort-Phillips family who continue to own it to this day. Tourists of the late 18th and early 19th centuries have much to say about Lawrenny. In 1798 Shrine wrote, ‘This place (Lawrenny), much improved by the taste of its present owner, Mr. Barlow, may justly be called the finest in Pembrokeshire, both from its internal decoration and its commanding position at the extremity of a high ridge clothed with thick woods’; Barber, in 1803, says much the same; and Fenton in 1811, notes, ‘Lawrenny, the charming seat of Hugh Barlow Esq., MP for Pembroke, where he lives for at least seven months of the year . . . He boasts a park well stocked with venison, extensive and well managed hot-houses, and has the command of fish.’ The house, though of that unpicturesque species of building peculiar to this country about a century ago, a tall cube, and in its external as to form not much entitled to admiration, yet is within disposed of with much taste and convenience, and is well connected with its offices; and from the breakfasting-room you walk into a neat conservatory well furnished with rare plants.’

        On 3 June 1809 a notice read, ‘To be let, Lawrenny-Hall (late residence of Hugh Barlow, Esq., deceased)’, with, on the ground floor, a spacious dining parlour, drawing room, breakfast parlour communicating by a glass door with a conservatory, a library, commodious kitchen, steward’s room, housekeeper’s room, servants’ hall, cellars, and other offices; on the first floor, four bedchambers with dressing rooms; on the second floor, seven bedchambers with three dressing rooms, and a store-room; in the attic storey, ten bedchambers; also coach-houses, stables, walled gardens, hot houses, pleasure grounds, paddock, park, and demesne lands, in all about 388 acres. In 1840, S. Lewis writes, ‘Lawrenny Hall, the ancient seat of the late Hugh Barlow Esq. . . . and now a ruin. This fine estate is entailed on the family of Lort-Phillips of Haverfordwest’. The historian, Burke, states in 1858 that the original house ‘Has lately been pulled down, and another is in the course of being created by Mr. Phillips in the castellated style’. This was George Lort-Phillips, M.P., whose family had inherited the property. This large towered and turreted mansion, typical of the mid 19th century, known as Lawrenny Castle, remained until 1950 when it was demolished. The family continued to live there and to contribute to public life – J. F. Lort-Phillips was High Sheriff in 1880, Lt. Col. Patrick Lort Phillips in 1954, and David Lort-Phillips in 1983. Mr. David Lort-Phillips, the present owner of the estate, lives at nearby Knowles Farm, a commodious farmstead.

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