Home | FAQ’s | Location Reports | Online Shop | Contact Us
The Carpenters Arms, St. Athan is located just a stones throw away from what was once known as RAF St. Athan, but this small community pub didn’t start out its life that way.
Previously known as “Fisherbridge Farm”, we’ve found the property on historic maps dating back to the late 18th century but as is to be expected, available information for this period of time is highly difficult.
The Carpenters Arms…
Visit Date: December 2024
Copyright © 2012 -
All photographs and other media are owned by Beyond The Lens Photography
unless stated otherwise and must not be used for any purpose without prior written
consent.
Beyond The Lens Photography does not condone or encourage trespassing, breaking criminal law or unsafe behaviour. We will not be held responsible for any injuries or deaths that may occur as a result of imitating our work. We will not be held responsible for any damage caused by another person to an unsecured property we have visited, photographed and reported.
No criminal laws are broken by Beyond The Lens Photography. We do not force entry into buildings nor cause any damage.
Records show that in 1949, the property was purchased by Mr Edward Hughes and continued to use the property as a farm, quickly tendering for agricultural use of a portion of land located within RAF St. Athan.
Once again, information dries up as to be expected for a day-
We posted up a single photograph on our Facebook page, where a lady took the time
to comment, explaining that her parents purchased Fisherbridge Farm in the mid 70’s,
living within the original farm house. Her parents, Kirsty and Gareth Winston-
Nicknamed locally the “FBI”, the establishment quickly became popular with the local residents and serving military personnel, serving a range of quality alcohol and food, with a burger during 1981 costing just 50p, a fraction of what it would cost today!
Many of our viewers have taken the time to share their memories of this family operated pub, including former serving military personnel who recalled a gap within the fencing allowing them to sneak from the military camp, directly into the Fisherbridge Inn. Others have fondly recalled meeting their wives, celebrating family events including birthdays and weddings and although others recalled a number of fights taking place, it appears that a typical day within this historic building would be filled with laughter, fun and friendship. However, we’ve found out that within the early 1990’s, the FBI changed owners once more and became known as “The Shackelton”, however that didn’t appear to last long as by 1998, the property was sold once again and became known as “The Carpenters Arms”.
In 1999, planning permission was obtained from the Vale of Glamorgan Council to develop 3 bed and breakfast properties to the side of the pub, photographed above, in what would have been the original farm house.
It’s apparent that over the years, the business did very well and once again, captured the hearts of local residents and the personnel within RAF St. Athan. However, with dwindling numbers no doubt caused by the privatisation of a large portion of RAF St. Athan and a large number of residents moving out of the area, the pub quickly became a shadow of its former self.
Records show that in 2014, the Carpenters Arms left the site and rented it out to another operator, trading as Bar 365 before changing their name to Moonshine in 2015. Social Media searches appear that this business was mainly operating as a club type of venue hosting a number of fundraising events for “Help for Heroes”.
There are clear disputes of what was the final demise in 2017 for this former historic location though.
The former management team behind Bar 365 and Moonshine claim that the property owners failed to undertake significant structural repairs and even after being renovated by themselves internally, found themselves being forced to leave the site by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. We are currently attempting to verify this information.
In 2018 however, Alun Griffiths Construction, in partnership with the Welsh Government, made use of the property as a site office whilst developing the Northern Access Road to improve access into the newly developed Bro Tathan Business Park.
The property finally sold in 2022 for just under £400,000.00 to a regional developer but due to the lapse in time, planning permission that was in place has now lapsed and there is no sign of anything being done to restore or develop this community loved, memorable building.
You can see all of our images from this location within the gallery below. All of our images are available to purchase in both printed and digital format, for more information, please contact us.
Photograph Gallery…
Usage & Licensing Information…
All of the photographs and video footage contained within this location report are owned and copyrighted by Beyond The Lens Photography and are not permitted for use without our express, written permission.
If you would like to licence any of the content contained within this location report, or any other report on our website, please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Beyond The Lens Photography does not recommend that you attempt to imitate our work.
