In 2014 I gained permission to photograph the remains of the Goodig hotel; and early on a sunny Wednesday morning in September I set-out to investigate this iconic Burry Port building and photo-record the structure before it was forever lost.
I always enjoyed passing the unkempt meadow, and witnessing the huge pigs and goats, lazily foraging and grazing. It was an idyllic, tranquil scene that made me smile and value this significant site.
In March 2019 Pembrey and Burry Port Heritage group published an excellent article on the Goodig hotel, which was researched and written by Ellen Davies. This must-read article delves into the history of the once large estate and the connections with the Penllergaer estate. It considers the history of the building and the lives of the many owners since the 17th century. Ellen describes the fire that engulfed the hotel in 1983 and the magnificent wood panelling, some of which was still visible during my visit.
In August 2023 WalesOnline featured an article on the Goodig which provided an update on the future of the Goodig with details on the planning applications.
But now the pigs and goats have gone, and a local landmark, although still visible atop the hill, is dwarfed by a new housing estate.
I arrived on the site just after sunrise to make the most of the south-facing structure in the early morning light, hoping that the sun’s rays would penetrate the gloom of the dereliction. The meadow felt eerily quite with no animals about. I ventured into what may have been a reception area that was now open to the air, taking a few photos as I progressed. The room looked very unsafe, and I decided that it was too risky to venture inside, but then suddenly the floor started to move and rumble, and these two huge pigs rose from the dust and debris of their slumber on the floor. They appeared to be not too pleased about being disturbed and started to stumble towards me, I beat a hasty retreat and found another subject to focus on.
With the awakening of the pigs, the goats started to appear, one in particular took an interest in me. It looked magnificent with its crossed horns.
On further investigation of the site, I discovered what looked like an abandoned ball room, where I noticed a magnificent rusted cash register (Gross I think), with a patina that glistened in the morning sunlight. Finding this cash register reminded me of the time that I managed a cash register business just off the Edgeware Road in London. So many interesting and humorous memories.
