Site Record

1. The most distinctive feature of this garden is its circular walled enclosure. This and the radial field pattern around it are interpreted as a medieval enclosure by Dodgshon (Cardiganshire County History). By the mid 19th century, Tithe map of 1845, the property consisted of 53 acres of radiating fields, now subdivided, and a central homestead consisting of a house plus farm quadrangle each approached by a separate entrances through the wall. It was then the home of William Eardley Richards who was responsible for the 'Strawberry Hill' gothic style of the east face of the house. he may have raised the walls along parts of the perimeter and built the gazebo but the evidence is unclear. The stream apparently entered the walled garden through a bricked arched culvert, and supplied a pond within. The NE fields had marginal planting on their perimeters. The outlook frames Aberystwyth between the hills.

Site Visit: Orchard trees survive within the walled garden and in a subsidiary orchard outside the south perimeter wall. Some marginal planting around the fields survives. Most other garden features are 20th century, concrete bridge culvert, greenhouse, flower beds etc. The lodge was built after 1905. Further additions to the house were made by Ifan Owen Edwards in the 1930's and the various ornamental millstones derived from ownership by Mr Ferris [Jervis] and its use as a folk museum.

WHGT CEREDIGION 1997

2. There is an interesting gazebo which was partly refurbished under an MSC scheme of the early '80s, but this left the steps unfinished (see photo 0731 in NMR files for before picture).

Circular enclosure theory of Dodgshon interesting but seems unlikely to be medieval. Fabric examined in detail for A Darlington, when parts of it were falling in during incumbency of Geol Survey. (Visited by CSB in late '80s and early '90s)

According to the WM 14 6 80, Sir Ifan abOwen Edwards moved there in 1944 [until ? early '50s].

It was used as a Folk Museum by John Jervis (not Ferris). CSB June 2001

3. This garden is depicted on the Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map of Cardiganshire X, sheet 1 (1905). Its main elements on that map include greenhouse, vinery, walled garden, waterfall, quadrangular enclosure, pond, orchard, lodge, lawns, herb, gazebo, gate, possible formal garden, croquet lawn, bridge and kitchen garden.

C.S.Briggs 18.10.05