He received an M.A. degree and, like two of his brothers, was ordained in 1787. The following year, he became
curate of
Chavenage House. In 1791, he purchased the Thomas Lewis estate in
Llanblethian. By 1795, he was rector of
Port Eynon, having moved to
Llanmaes House. Records show him to be rector of
Llanmaes in 1824. As the family mansion, The Ham, was given to the eldest son, Iltyd, Nicholl Carne began building Dimlands in 1799 on land he inherited from his father. Nicholl Carne's original property was small in area, said to be 99 acres. He was known to have purchased surrounding properties, amongst which were
Caer Wrgan ("Wrganstown"), the site of the ancient castle of
Jestyn ap Gwrgant, lord of Glamorgan and the last ruler of the Welsh kingdom of
Morgannwg, as well as the
Millways, near
Boverton, both originally sections of the
Fonmon Castle estate. He also purchased the property of the
Earl of Plymouth. Nicholl Carne purchased Whitecross Farm from his relative, Whitlock Nicholl of
Adamsdown, it having originally belonged to Nicholl Carne's father. By 1817, he owned land at
Brynsach and Westfield, and by 1835, a farm in
Bute. Through his second marriage, he acquired the Nash Estate in 1842, consisting of properties in
Nash and
Llysworney, and the Lechmore farm. ==Personal life==