Aberglasney

The site was owned for ten generations of a family which by tradition could trace its origins to Elystan Glodrydd "Prince between Wye and Severn," and Gwenllian, granddaughter of Hywel Dda.

[5] Funded by the recently appointed Anthony Rudd (c. 1548–1614), Bishop of St David's Cathedral from 1594, the house was reconstructed in 1603, a time when it also probably gained its still standing Elizabethan promenade garden, the best preserved of its type in all of Great Britain.

Dyer who was thought to have been living in the property at this time, had the house "rebuilt," although later investigation suggests he improved it greatly including the additional of a Queen Anne style facade.

He and his married mistress lived in the house, and dying childless in 1824 left the property to his sister's son John Walters, who added Philipps to his surname and a portico to the Queen Anne façade.

As the build-up to D Day occurred, the house was used as a holding-station for troops of the US Army, which included the sparring partner of Joe Louis, Top Sergeant Dawson.

A further sale in 1977 reduced the size of the surrounding lands, in part to fund what became a short-lived effort to restore what was now a vandalised property that was subject to regular architectural theft.

When the owners joined this effort by trying to sell the portico legally via Christie's auctioneers, the Welsh Office stepped in with a full prosecution to preserve the listed building.

Aberglasney House Viewed from the Cloister Garden
Aberglasney House Viewed from the Cloister Garden
Aberglasney House
Aberglasney House
Aberglasney House and gardens
Aberglasney House and gardens
Aberglasney House, view from the gate
Aberglasney House, view from the gate
Aberglasney garden, with Aberglasney House in the background
Aberglasney garden, with Aberglasney House in the background
Cottages and offices at Aberglasney Garden
Cottages and offices at Aberglasney Garden
Stained glass window at Aberglasney House. The ninfarium glasshouse can be seen behind it
Stained glass window at Aberglasney House. The ninfarium glasshouse can be seen behind it
The Cloisters - Aberglasney House
The Cloisters - Aberglasney House
The ninfarium (tropical glasshouse) at Aberglasney Gardens
The ninfarium (tropical glasshouse) at Aberglasney Gardens