Bodorgan Mansion is located in the south-west of Anglesey, on rising ground north-west of the Malltraeth inlet and facing south-east overlooking it (nprn 15579). The house is surrounded by gardens (265110) and lies within a deer park the history of which can be traced from the early eighteenth century onwards, on an estate with medieval origins. The deer park is still in use.
The park is a roughly rectangular area of ground, long axis north-east by south-west, falling away south-eastwards towards the estuary. It is bounded by minor roads, and on the south-west by a field wall. The house lies in the centre of the park, near the southern end of the central band of woodland which occupies a low ridge. There are fine views from the house and garden out over the park to the estuary and Snowdonia beyond. The park contains large areas of woodland in part for use as shelter belts for the exposed location, especially around the house which is surrounded on three sides by the central belt.

Within the parkland is the deer park, a long, narrow area occupying the open strip between the central and eastern bands of woodland. The deer park is still used as such but is much reduced. Only the southern half, in front of the house, contains parkland trees, mainly oak and sycamore. The open areas, other than the deer park, are now farmland. Parkland planting once extended further north but by 1891 there were few trees outside the area where they are now concentrated. The woods contain a mixture of trees of all ages with some fine specimens, both deciduous and coniferous. The eastern woodland belt is now used as shooting coverts. The walled gardens, surrounded by woodland, are also located here (700175). Nearby are Garden Cottage (the head gardener’s house), a former bath house (1825) and a twentieth century boathouse. The ‘Lime Walk’ runs from the east side across to the edge of the deer park, where there is a gate. Formerly the path continued across the park and through Rookery Wood towards the house, but this is now disused.

The parkland landscape includes three lodges. The main drive runs through woodland from the north at Lower Lodge, continues along a public road due south to Front Lodge, the oldest lodge, then gently curves towards the house. Before the house it intersects another drive from farm buildings, and crosses the deer park to the eastern band of woodland. The rear drive runs south-eastwards from the Back Lodge (now Sarn Lodge), on the east side of the park, to the farm area, and then south to approach the back of the house.

Sources:
Cadw 1998: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales: Conwy, Gwynedd & the Isle of Anglesey, 2-8 (ref: PGW(Gd)44(ANG)).
Ordnance Survey first-edition 25-inch map: sheet Anglesey XXI.8 & 12 (1886).

RCAHMW, 17 May 2022