Saturday 24 September 2022

Us out gallivanting - Llwyn Celyn - plus photos now

 


Here we are then, a VERY rare photo with ME in it as I am always the one behind the camera!  Yesterday we went off gallivanting to Llwyn Celyn, a fabulous historic (c.1420) Landmark Trust property.  We had the place pretty much to ourselves and the people volunteering couldn't have done more to facilitate Keith's access to every room.  This was taken by one of the volunteers - a lovely lady.  I will do a proper post later this evening, but thought I would share this with you all.



Llwyn Celyn in the sunshine.



There was a lovely kitchen with a beautiful refectory table down the middle.  I didn't take a photo of that as it was covered in big photo albums and information about the work on the house.  It was apparently in a VERY bad way when the Landmark Trust took it over and began work. Two brothers had lived a very basic life in it and weren't bothered by what sounded like an open drain down the centre of this room!  It sounds like it dealt with the water run-off from the hillside behind it when there was heavy rain. HERE is a link to the history of the house and how it was improved.




Wonderful old woodwork fronting the cupboard under the stairs (and Henry Hoover).  On the back, you could see the plank and muntin boarding.


There was beautiful antique furniture throughout, all totally appropriate to the age of the building.  This Cwrt Cupboard looked  absolutely right for the room.


A lovely wainscot chair in a corner (note blocked in drain!!)


A wonderful view across the yard.


A charming cupboard in the wall, and a beautiful late17th C chest of drawers.  I loved the repurposing of the stoneware flagon into a lamp base.




This was the one piece we would have dearly loved to have smuggle out.  It is STUNNING.  That carving.


A lovely headboard for that bed.


Upstairs - this beautiful room used to be the Solar  and was added in 1690 when extensive improvements to the farm were carried out.


A Master Carpenter has carried out good honest improvements where needed - no covering over with stain of the diamond-shaped infills or the pegs.


The base of this lovely lamp has been made from part of a four poster bed.  Perfect repurposing.


I think this cupboard is probably Italian, but just perfect for the room.  All that amazing carving.


Another bed just perfect for the ambience of the house.



Downstairs again, and beautiful carvings over two doors leading off the hallway.



The back of the house, and then (below) across to the Cider House, which offers further accommodation with a big bedroom and wetroom.


The Skirrid (486m) - sad for us to look at this and think just 5 years ago we all climbed this  - Keith to the lead.  That same year he and Tam climbed Pen-y-Fan too.  886 metres.


Finally, in the bunkhouse (formerly a threshing barn) a cleverly woven owl overhead.

Hoping you've all had a lovely weekend.

41 comments:

  1. That is a lovely photo of you both.

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    1. Thank you. I think I will get that one printed and framed.

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  2. What a lovely photo of you both. xx Glad you had a lovely day out xx

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    1. Thanks Tricia. Keith was determined to get round.

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  3. Terrific to see!! Lovely photo. I just love your new header.

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    1. It is a good photo. As for the header, I was really pleased with it until I saw the dead branch of holly (cut off last month!) Doh!

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    2. I would not have eaten noticed, the branch of dead holly if you hadn't mentioned it.

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  4. Thank you Tricia. We really enjoyed our day out, and the sunshine.

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  5. So happy you had a lovely day out together. Grand photo, too!

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    1. Thank you Mary. Making the most of the autumn sunshine.

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  6. Oh I have been there - isn't it amazing. Though amazingly expensive to actually stay there. We went on the first open day before it was even open for residents.

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    1. Eeek! Mind you it does sleep 8, so if you have a houseful it becomes a more sensible rate. Truly an amazing house and the antique furniture beautifully chosen.

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    2. Check out the Clavell Tower at Kimmeridge (we walked past it in itsruinous state many a time when we lived in Dorset). Now that IS expensive as it only sleeps 2 and is £580 for 4 nights.

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  7. Delightful pix. Glad you had a good day out together.

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    1. A tiring day for Keith because of the travel but so enjoyable.

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  8. So pleased you got there, I knew you would love it. Yes, Landmark Trust houses may seem expensive but we feel completely worth it. I discovered all about silk mercers while staying in one of the Banqueting Houses at Chipping Campden a few years ago. The two Banqueting Houses owned by the Landmark Trust are the only survivors from the mansion and gardens built by Sir Baptist Hicks in 1612. The house was burnt down during the Civil War. Sir Baptist was the silk mercer to the Courts of Elizabeth and James I and was the second richest man in England in his time. I like to think that the silk for the Rainbow dress (I went to the exhibition at Hampton Court) passed through Baptist’s hands. The wealth tied up in silk, satin, wool, gold and silver thread in this period was astronomical. I adore looking at portraits from this period and admiring the clothing, must be the silk weavers in my ancestry coming to the fore. Love the header - the dead Holly makes it real - and the photo of you and Keith is a keeper for sure. Sarah x PS Brain scan finally for S today in Chichester and on a Sunday! We’ll go to the sea afterwards.

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    1. So pleased you gave me the heads up for it! Their properties are always so interesting and it sounds like you really learned a lot about the silk mercers. So I assume you had Huegenot ancestors? My friend Annie did - hers settled in London. I think we overlook how much money was tied up in wool and textiles in the past. So sad that fleeces are worth next to nothing now.

      I hope that the brain scan went OK today. Enjoy that sea air.

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  9. How lovely to see you both, and I love the new header too.

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  10. Lovely pictures of the rooms and furniture and you. And I really like the new header photo.

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  11. The furniture was lovely, and the house. Just our sort of place. The hedge looked even better from upstairs but an awkward angle to capture it from.

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  12. Two lovely photos - your header and you and Keith 😊

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  13. Looks so comfortable and homely. I have looked at the Landmark photos but always love to see furniture and objects through your eyes, Btw the Landmark Trust website is an excellent resource for those of us who love the history of houses and their occupants. We last climbed the Skirrid September. Have I mentioned how much I love Wales! Sarah x

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    1. That room truly gave you a hug. The views from the Skirrid are amazing. I've always wanted to walk along the canal around the Blorenge too.

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  14. The picture is beautiful. You both look so happy. I agree! It MUST be framed.

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  15. What an interesting house and furniture. Lovely. On the chest you say is Italian, is a smaller storage box...note its finely detailed beautiful lock plate. I love seeing things like that. I would have liked to see a view of the solar, more fully? I cannot picture it.

    Lovely photo of you two! And *the most* beautiful header photo, glorious autumn, perhaps a hedgerow?

    love

    lizzy

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    1. The hedgerow is ours, as seen from our side kitchen window. It runs into an Ivy hedge, beloved of the bees. I was so grateful to the volunteer for taking our photo.

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  16. PS disregard my previous comment about the solar photo view. As I reread the post I found the photo showing he room more fully.


    W the cupboards and door woodwork etc, do you think the wood originally was left weathered and bare like that or might it have been more fully finished?

    lizzy

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    1. Indeed, wooden partitions, doorways etc wouldn't have been painted, it remained an ordinary wooden finish.

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  17. Definitely get that first photo of you and Keith framed, it captures you both beautifully.

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    1. Thanks Thelma. It was a happy day, despite the mobility problems.

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  18. Well the pair of you look happy there, love Keiths trainers. The house looks really interesting to visit, have to put it on the list for us to visit

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    1. I forgot to mention Wessex Flower Mill is closing the end of the year, they sold the rights to Doves from Hungerford and unless they start selling the Wessex flours, I will be getting my flour from Matthews.

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    2. Keith's trainers are his running shoes that the kids bought him for his birthday 3 years ago. A crystal ball might have saved them the expense . . . I think the house is open about 3 times a year (June, September and December). Oh no - I hope that my beloved Oats & Bran bread flour isn't discontinued.

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  19. What gorgeous furniture. The carvings are lovely.

    God bless.

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    1. It was so perfectly "dressed" with such lovely antique pieces.

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  20. What a lovely photo of both of you. Yes, I am always the one behind the camera too, I have virtually no record of me on any of our days out or holidays.

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