Reginald Blewitt’s re-building, completed in 1836, was a typically ornate Georgian mansion complete with a minstrel gallery. The front of the house has not changed since then. The Morgan coat of arms, with a scroll, noting the work of Reginald Blewitt, was placed over the front door when the re-building was completed.

In the course of time Edward Bray’s two daughters married and became Mrs Blewitt and Mrs Fettiplace. They inherited the Abbey on the death of their parents. However they quarrelled about the inheritance and eventually decided on joint ownership—each to reside at the Abbey for six months at a time. Needless to say this did not work out too well. The Abbey fell into considerable disrepair. Eventually a distant relative, John Reginald Blewitt, took undisputed possession of the premises in the early 19th century. There is plenty of evidence of the re-building work which he undertook and, indeed, much of the present Abbey building remains as he re-built it.

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On the front door itself is an interesting door knocker—of uncertain origin—but certainly showing Our Lady of Citeaux—the place where the Cistercians were founded. It serves as another reminder of the Cistercian roots of Llantarnam Abbey.