Cefn Ila, a nineteenth-century house on a more ancient site but destroyed by fire in 1973, is located to the west of Usk. It is primarily noted for its Victorian garden and its ornamental trees and shrubs (nprn 265978). The estate is now owned by the Woodland Trust.

House site and gardens lie within relict parkland which formed a triangular area, narrow on the south-east, broadening to the north-west. The house lay towards the eastern boundary. The approach to Cefn Ila is from an entrance off a minor road to the south, a small lodge on its east side. The drive crosses the river over a single-arched stone bridge near . a sluice forming a small cascade to create a pleasing sound effect to enhance the experience of crossing the bridge. The drive climbs the hill towards the house and garden, flanked in part by iron park fencing. On either side is relict parkland. To the west it has been planted as mixed woodland by the Woodland Trust. A large Cedar of Lebanon stands on the east side of the entrance to the grounds and at this point a subsidiary drive leads off to the west. Iron gateposts survive in the fence on the west side of the drive.

Most of the interior has been planted by the Trust though areas of parkland trees remain.

Sources:
Cadw 2013: Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales (ref: PGW(Gt)63(MON)).
Additional notes: D.K.Leighton.

RCAHMW, 19 July 2022

Site Record

Cefn Ila Park, Usk