A rich, fascinating history
History
A rich, fascinating history
From the potential site of the first Welsh parliament in 560AD to being lost in a card game, Llangoed Hall possesses a history as long as it is fascinating.
560
Donated to the church by Prince Iddon, believed to have been a legendary White Palace, home of the first Welsh parliament
1632
A mansion exists on the site build in the classic Jacobean manor house style
1847
Sold by the McNamara family after two generations, was originally won in a card game
1900
Formed part of the great estate of Lord Glanusk
1912
Clough Williams-Ellis, who would later go on to design the famous Italianesque village of Portmeirion, re-designed the mansion as a country house, retaining the surviving Jacobean porch as part of the south wing
1919
Present building completed
1987
Bought by Sir Bernard Ashley, husband of Laura Ashley, and restored to its former glory
1990
Opened as a country house hotel in the Edwardian tradition
2012
Hotel changed ownership. The new owner has confirmed his intention to continue the 'at home' experience which was established by Sir Bernard originally
History of Llangoed Hall
From 560 AD to the Present Day
Formerly known as Llangoed Castle, the hall is set in 17 acres of garden and parkland in the valley of the River Wye, nine miles west of the picturesque town of Hay-on-Wye. According to the late Sir Clough William Ellis, the celebrated Welsh Architect, there appears to have been a house on this site since 500 AD. It is said that the First Welsh Parliament was also held here.
Subsequently the building became for several centuries an episcopal grange, only to be largely rebuilt in 1632 by Sir Henry Williams in the classic Jacobean Manor House style. Sir Henry's Coat of Arms can still be seen over the south porch.
During regency times, the Williams family lost the property to a John McNamara in a gambling bout. In 1847, it was bought by John Bailey and by 1900 formed part of the great estate of Lord Glanusk. Soon afterwards, it was acquired by Mrs. Archibald Christy, the wife of the prominent London hatter. It was Mrs. Christy who commissioned Clough William Ellis to restore and largely redesign the house. The present building was completed in 1919, although parts of the south facing wing including the panelled library dating from 1632 were incorporated.
Llangoed was Williams-Ellis’s first major commission and preceded Portmeirion, his well-known Italianate village in North Wales, by over a decade.
Like Sir Edwin Lutyens, Ellis was an Edwardian architect who sought to recreate, in the contemporary times, an example of the great country house. At Llangoed, he made daring innovations, but he tried to retain the majestic chimneyed outlines of the Jacobean house he was adapting. With the advent of the First World War, many of there great houses had outlived their general purpose.
By the early 1970's, Llangoed was in danger of demolition saved only because of its historical and architectural importance. In 1987, Sir Bernard Ashley, founder of Elanbach and Laura Ashley, bought the property and restored the hall to its former glory.
In 2012, the Interesting Hotels Group purchased the estate after it had fallen into administration under the Von Esson Group.
In September 2013 – less than a year out of administration & having undergone a Multimillion pound refurb the hotel was awarded Hotel of the Year 2014 from the AA of Great Britain and Ireland and by November 2013 it was Conde Nast Johanans Restaurant of the Year 2014. 2015 saw our first ever entry into Good Food Guide - Top 50 in the UK where we still are to this day. In 2016/2017 we were Conde Nast Johansens' Eco Hotel of the Year.
It’s back to the glory days!
