Aberglasney House and Gardens

30 comments

Aberglasney is situated just off the A40 at Llangathen, in west Wales. It’s history spans many centuries but it’s early origins are shrouded in mystery.

It was certainly owned by several families of Welsh gentry, and they claimed descent from such people as Gwenllian the daughter of Hywel Dda ( Howell the Good – a great Welsh ruler).

Nobody knows what the original house looked like, but 500 yrs ago the bard Lewis Glyn Cothi wrote that there were 9 green gardens here. They have now disappeared, but maybe their outlines coinside with the garden enclosures seen here today.

In about 1600 Aberglasney became the property of a Biship Rudd, who improved it and added a gatehouse and cloister garden. And that is also when it first became known as ‘Aberglasney’ .

The gatehouse is the original entrance to the property.
At one time it had two single storey wings on either side.

A cobbled way leads from the gate house to a cloister garden

The cloister garden is enclosed on 2 sides by cloisters, and in between those a wall with arches.

The parapet walk along the top of the cloister walls gives splendid views of the garden enclosed

In 1810 Thomas Philipps who then owned Aberglasney added a portico to the front of the house, and you can see it in the next photo

A descendant of his – Marianne Mayhew, was the last in the family at the end of the century. Her husband planted a number of rare trees many of which still survive. But the oldest trees are the ancient yews which form a tunel.

I don’t have a photo of the tunel, but it goes through the trees you see here from left to right.

Since 1930 the house bacame partially abandoned when it was flooded, and in the 1950s it became derelict

By the 1990s the property had become a ruin, and was purchased by the Aberglasney Restoratrion Fund. The house and 10 acres of gardens were subsequently restored to the way they are today

Aberglasney is about 12 miles from the village where I live, and it is a lovely place to visit. Here are some more photos of it.

Walled Gardens

Walkways with arches

Herb Garden

Pond

There is some more to show, so I have put it in another blog for tomorrow.

28 Jan, 2010
25 likes

Comments

Muddywalters

A beautiful place Hywel, I imagine you are a frequent visiter, living so close. I'm sure I saw a tv program a couple of years ago about the restoration work here. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's blog. :-)

28 Jan, 2010

Okasia

o wow! fantastic place:) and for me so much of inspiraton:) I have just started a garden history module at college - and I am very much into it... This week I went with my class to see Anglesey Abbey gardens near Cambridge - the house is younger (still old:) gardens less formal - but still it was lovely trip. I will try to prepare a blog so everybody could see it as well:) Only have to find a spare moment between my schoolwork:) which is hard - but I still have to have some fun in life lol:)

28 Jan, 2010

Hywel

That would be very interesting Okasia, but only when you have time.

Muddywalters, I have only been there once or twice. It's like everything else on one's doorstep. You just get on with everyday life and the 'touristy' things become part of the background.

28 Jan, 2010

Pamd

Very true Hywel,same here I can't even remember the last time we went down to the beach, although did go to Heligan the other day, but once again called in for a coffee didn't go round the gardens.
Very good blog & some lovley photo's, here's to tomorrow.

28 Jan, 2010

Hollyeves

interesting blog Hywel........and lovely photos.........

28 Jan, 2010

Pottygardener

Another interesting blog Hywel, and some lovely photos.

28 Jan, 2010

Clarice

What a beautiful place thanks for showing us these lovely photos, know what you mean about things being on your door step and not going to them, i've only been to top of blackpool tower once and i was 58 when i did that.

28 Jan, 2010

Arlene

| Lovely place Hywel!
The Botanic gardens are free until the end of the month and are holding a Welsh food event this weekend~ cheeses etc~will try to get there if I can on Sunday

28 Jan, 2010

Gee19

Lovely to see a building and grounds so beautifully restored and maintained. What caused the floods in the 1930's? Fascinating blog, Hywel and another place worth a visit :)

28 Jan, 2010

Hywel

Thank you for all your comments
I think the flood was caused by burst pipes Gee. The place had fallen into a bad state.

28 Jan, 2010

Busylizzy

Fascinating Hywel - so good to see that it has been restored and that the gardens are there for all to enjoy. The ancient Yew tree tunnel looks beautiful.

28 Jan, 2010

Sanbaz

what a beautifull house and gardens hywel, interesting info to ;o))

28 Jan, 2010

Terratoonie

Excellent blog, Hywel... wonderful pics :o)

28 Jan, 2010

Hywel

Thank you everyone for your comments.

TT did you see the cobbles I put a photo of for the Goypaedia page ? You'll know where they are now.

28 Jan, 2010

Drc726

I loved that tour Hywel thanks

28 Jan, 2010

Pansypotter

A beautiful place Hywel, would love to wander around , and explore the grounds it looks steeped in history, lovely pictures too.

28 Jan, 2010

Dottydaisy2

What a wonderful place to visit, Wales has some marvellous gardens and so well kept, loved the photographs very professional Hywel......

28 Jan, 2010

Hywel

Thank you all.
Thanks Dottydaisy. I think the way I take photos is from the old days when there was a film in the camera, and I tried to get the best views so as not to waste the film lol.

28 Jan, 2010

Lincslass

Thank`s Hywel, it looks a fabulous house and it`s good that it`s been restored, the garden`s look smashing and so well kept,I really enjoy visiting these grand old houses but have to admit I`m always more interested in the gardens, especially the walled ones.Your photograph`s are a treat to see.....

28 Jan, 2010

Walfords

After seeing the programme about the restoration on television, Aberglasney was in my book of places to visit. This we managed in September 2008. The weather was a bit damp but we had a lovely day, my husband is disabled and uses an electic buggy and managed to get to most places around the garden. We also had a delicious lunch!

28 Jan, 2010

Wagger

Wonderful house and grounds to visit and such beautiful photographs, Hywel. Nice to see the gatehouse and cobbled path in context. Stunning yew trunks - that tunnel certainly looks ancient.

29 Jan, 2010

Sixpence

Beautiful, blog Hywel, my friend goes here frequently when holidaying at her holiday home.

29 Jan, 2010