Llanllyr

About Llanllyr

Llanllyr is on an ancient site where a Cistercian nunnery was established in the 12th century. The present house was built about 1826 and the garden was laid out at the same time. In 1986 the old shrubbery was cleared and replanting began. In 1989 new shrub borders to the north and east of the house were planted, a large fishpond, bog garden and an Italianate water garden created along the line of an old medieval culvert, a small formal box garden set out near the house and an extensive shrub Rose Garden planted to a design by Hazel le Rougetel.

Over the years trees and shrubs have been planted in the Old Orchard beyond the fishpond. A Rose Arbour has been established there together with avenues of crab apples and flowering cherries, an allegorical Labyrinth created, and gravel gardens planted. A path around the perimeter begins with a mount near the eastern boundary and follows a morning walk of winding paths past trees, shrubs and meadow flowers, ending with a pale, more formal western Evening Avenue.

The four-acre garden contains various original wood carvings, fountains and other features. There are many unusual trees, shrubs and interesting plants with an emphasis on low maintenance. Aquilegias, primulas, hardy geraniums, hellebores, cyclamen and other plants are allowed to seed and spread. This is a romantic rather than a tidy garden which the owners look after themselves with minimal help and manage as far as possible organically.

There are two items of archaeological interest. The first is the high freestanding cob walls of the Victorian kitchen garden. The second is an inscribed Celtic Christian Stone, at the entrance to the Rose Garden, which records the gift of a plot of land to an Irish disciple of St David circa 600 AD. Llanllyr is included in CADW Register of Landscapes, Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales with a Grade II listing, and is in The Good Gardens Guide. In 2004 it was judged the best large garden in Wales in the Clwb Garddio Competition organized by S4C television. Large plant sale by Ceredigion Growers on the Open Day.

Spectacular rose garden planted with fragrant old fashioned shrub and climbing roses. Specialist Plant Fair by Ceredigion Growers Association.