This was from a month ago, when my friend Gay was staying. Sorry there's no photo of the outside, but there was a gaggle of folk in the way, talking. HERE is the National Trust link that shows you how the manor house looks.
It was originally a farmhouse, but was then radically extended and changed. The old part of the house was from the doors at the back of the staircase backwards, and the grander squarer rooms lead off the main entrance.
This looks to be in a later style than the other rooms - 30s perhaps- with a stuffed otter - a very blonde one.
A Cobra with stuffing problems!
There were four beautifully curved corners to this room and the mahogany furniture had clearly been made to measure and suit. However, only two pieces survive.
I hope you can at least read some of the description and history below on this beautifully embroidered child's bodice.
And now to the best bits. Kitchen today, and the yard with all its other appurtenances, over the weekend.
I love the simplicity of this. In the corner is, I believe, the old Copper, for wash days. Mum had one, but hers was free-standing and ran on gas. It started with very hot water for the white wash - sheets. Then gradually going through the clothes as the water cooled and ending up with blankets - in high summer, so you could dry them on the line.
Quite a well-stocked pantry. Jams and pickles needed though! The old meat safe on the cool floor, though on a scorching day like today, I still think any meat would soon be on the turn.
Sorry this is so dark. I didn't use the flash.
Such a homely comforting room.I still use a clothes horse like this (actually I have three, from when I sold more textiles at Fairs). One was from Keith's family and one from mine. They are for airing clothes but I use them in the yard for drying them ever since the rotary dryer fell foul of he flying polytunnel and all ended up in the pond . . .
Two more parts to come - the court yard of buildings which dealt with laundry, dairy, brewing, bread making etc. Then a bit one of the kitchen gardens.
Enjoy your weekend.
I enjoyed this tour, the home looks like a comfortable place to live, perhaps happy families lived there. Not too fancy, I like that.
ReplyDeleteI think there may have been better furniture but that stayed with the family. This was allquite utalitarian.
ReplyDeleteI find the servants areas of these big houses equally interesting, possibly more so, than the posh bit in front.
ReplyDeleteKitchens are much the most interesting bits of big houses for me.
DeleteVery interesting interiors. Now I can visualize the settings if the books I enjoy set in England and Wales. A few areas reminded me of 1940s-ish spaces, maybe the house was used thru that time, now almost 100 years ago.[I didn't yet read the link, this could be very much incorrect.]
ReplyDeleteIt was lived in until 1989, so definitely some 40s furniture in the mix. For Welsh vernacular housing and early interiors see this post from St Fagans, Cardiff: https://codlinsandcream2.blogspot.com/2020/02/day-out-in-cardiff.html
DeleteThere should be somemore from around March 2020, if you want to check back.
I ll look, thanks!
DeleteI love the kitchen pictures. You have the one with the black stove, and next to it is a black chair. What is that ON the chair. I cannot make it out. That old sink is fantastic, isn't it though?
ReplyDeleteAhah - I had to squint at it, but it's not ON the chair - it's attached to the table and I think it's for stringing beans or similar. The Victorians had an invention for everything!
DeleteI have. I have a clothes horse like that, too only mine is much bigger. My father made it for my mother for her. to be able to dry larger items like sheets and towels. when he was building this house and we didn't have a proper line or anything. I've always liked Llanerchaeron. I often wonder what the interior would look like today had it not come into the hands of the National Trust. It would probably be yet another holiday home decorated in neutral colours and tapestry bed spreads.
ReplyDeleteThe house and especially the outdoor domestic courtyard is lovely. I am sure you visited the farmyard and I wonder if you saw the Llanwenog rare breed sheep. I spun and knitted myself a vest top from Llanernog blended with a small amount of Black Welsh Mountain bought directly from a Cardiganshire Welsh farmer a few years ago. It is so soft to wear and has a lovely bounce. Our Dartmoor longhouse had a Bungalow Belle stove in the kitchen. Not for Landmarkers to use I hasten to add - purely for the Look!
ReplyDeleteSarah x
This looks a beautiful, peaceful and homely house BB. The framed photographic portraits are rather lovely. Looking forward to seeing the service courtyard- the engine rooms of the house and where the lifestyle of the few inside was supported from the many behind the scenes. Always more interesting I think! Danette x
ReplyDeleteI remember we used to have a bean cutter, loved it as a child, you would push the bean down and it would cut them to size. Lovely set of photographs and everything polished to shining perfection.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post.. incentive to pay a visit when we can.
ReplyDeleteI used to have a kitchen floor like that when we had a smallholding..when the floor was changed from heavy huge slate slabs on earth I insisted that the slate slabs went back over the new base..cool in summer and warm in winter.
I have larder envy now....
The kitchen and pantry are most appealing to me. Why would anyone want to share space with a stuffed cobra? Not a fan of taxidermy, but at least the blonde otter is cozy!
ReplyDeleteClothes horse--there was one at my grandfather's house and another at the neighbors' where I spent many hours. Turned over and draped with an old blanket they made a perfect hide-away for an imaginative child.
My Gran won a single tub electric washing machine with rollers on the back in a competition in 1937, she was still using it in 1983 and do you remember blue bags. We are loving Southwold but it’s very pricy. Just having an after drink drink or two at The Swan owned by Addams. Love and hugs Gill xx
ReplyDeleteIt's a fascinating house isn't it, we went there a couple of times when we stayed in a National Trust cottage on the edge of the parklands. Pontbrenmydyr was a birthday treat for me back in 2015. Like you I love the kitchens and the servants quarters the best in most old houses. I always rush through the upstairs (especially if they have stuffed animals) to get to the downstairs and the good stuff.
ReplyDelete