He built Dimland Castle at the end of the 18th century upon land left him by his father, from whom he inherited 99 acres. Nicholl Carne was born at The Ham, Llanilltud Fawr, Glamorganshire, Wales. He was the sixth son of Whitlock Nicholl (1720-1788), of The Ham, in Llantwit Major, High Sheriff of Glamorgan in 1746.
His mother was Anne Lewis (1722-1797), Penllyn.
He received an Master of Arts 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 Portuguese 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.
