Gwysaney Hall (nprn 35855) is located on the edge of a plateau to the north of Mold. It is notable for the historical interest of its park which has origins as a seventeenth-century deerpark with some contemporary walling and trees (700099); also for its fine nineteenth-century arboretum containing many unusual mature specimens, and for the Victorian/Edwardian layout of its garden.

Extensive tree-planting was carried out in 1820s when Philip Davies-Cooke carried out major alterations - the terrace and ha-ha, the arboretum and paths are all believed to date from this period. Further major restoration was carried out in 1906 when the garden to the north of the house assumed it's present form.

The gardens lie to the south, east and north of the house, on the level plateau, the ground falling away steeply on the east side. They comprise a number of distinct formal and informal garden areas. The drive enters from the south, through simple iron gates, passes the west end of the house, and opens out into a forecourt on the north front, in the middle and around which are specimen trees. West of the drive is an area of informally planted mixed woodland. To its east is a wide gravel walk in front of the house around which are planted Irish yews, and beyond it a lawn, once partly used for croquet or tennis, and bounded by a ha-ha. Between the south garden and the east terrace is a wrought iron screen and gate made by the Davies brothers of Bersham. East of the house is a wide gravel walk flanked by a level lawn bounded on the edge of the plateau by a low, decorated stone wall the slope below it planted with rhododendrons.

To the north of the house the garden comprises several small compartments enclosed by stone walls and hedging. East of the forecourt is the small chapel garden, its north side consisting of two three-light Jacobean Perpendicular-style windows from the demolished east wing of the house; a sundial is set into the wall between them. To the east are the remains of an old cottage.

North of the forecourt is a small enclosed formal garden with a rectangular parterre in clipped box bounded by a gravel path. In the centre is a low circular plinth on which stands a small bell under a stone arch, and to the west is a lawn. To the north a smaller area is laid out with geometric island beds around a central stone baluster sundial. The east side of this entire area is bounded by a yew hedge, which is the west side of a narrow compartment bounded on the other side by a beech hedge. Alongside this is a long grass walk to a wrought iron gate into the arboretum, again by the Davies brothers of Bersham.

The arboretum lies to the north of the formal garden, at the south end of a Ram Wood. It dates from the 1820s and has both deciduous and coniferous trees including some notable rarities, laid out within an elongated triangle formed by paths. The wall bounding its western edge is believed to be part of the seventeenth-century deer park wall, and probably dates to c.1664.
There are many pines, spruces, firs and cedars. At the southern end, next to the stable courtyard wall, is an underground ice-house beneath a low grass mound, the entrance now blocked.

The walled kitchen garden is located about 175m north-west of the house, beyond its outbuildings (700100).

Sources:
Cadw 1995: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales, Clwyd, 108-11 (ref: PGW(C)43(FL)).
Google Maps (Infoterra) imagery (accessed 20.09.2021).
RCAHMW air photos: 94-CS 1566-8; 945167/47-9

RCAHMW, 19 April 2022

Cofnod Safle

Gwysaney Hall Gardens, Mold