Llanerchaeron

About

Llanerchaeron near the coastal town of Aberaeron is managed by the National Trust. It is a traditional welsh estate with a villa, servants' quarters, stables, farm buildings and walled garden, set in a landscape which is both beautiful and productive.

For over three centuries the Llanerchaeron estate was home to ten generations of the same family. Each generation contributed to the estate as you see it today with a villa, servants' quarters, stables, farm buildings and walled garden, set in a landscape which is both beautiful and productive.

Llanerchaeron was purchased in 1634 by Llewellyn Parry, who could claim his lineage all the way back to the Welsh Princes. At this point the estate comprised of a small farmhouse with 500 acres of land, and a small formal garden, possibly the first in Wales. The estate would continue to grow over the following 100 years, with purchases of more land and an advantageous marriage to the Lewis family of the neighbouring estate at Ciliau Aeron.

The villa is a complete example of the early work of John Nash. John Nash was employed as the architect and work started in the 1790s to the house. It was transformed, under Nash’s vision, from a small farmhouse into the elegant Villa that we have today. It has its own service courtyard with dairy, laundry, brewery and salting house, giving a full 'upstairs, downstairs' experience.

THE WALLED GARDEN
Built in the late 18th century the walled gardens at Llanerchaeron have been producing fruit and vegetables for over 200 years. Originally a high tech hive of Georgian industry the gardens have a much more romantic and dreamy feeling about them today.

Within the walls you will find productive kitchen gardens, ancient fruit trees, remnants of horticultural technology spanning the lifetime of the garden, herbaceous borders and a wonderful herb garden.

The south facing walls were all heated by fire pits when first built and evidence of these remains as well as 2 beds heated by hypocausts which were used for fruit production. In the frame yard you will find a fire pit used to heat cold frames.

Along the south facing walls is a Victorian greenhouse heated by circulating hot water systems which remain in place though not now heated and also a gently decaying concrete greenhouse from the 1950s.

THE HOME FARM
The Home Farm complex has an impressive range of traditional, atmospheric outbuildings. A working farm, with a resident pair of Welsh cobs, rare Welsh pigs as well as chickens, geese and doves. Sheep and cattle can be seen in neighbouring fields, assisting with conservation grazing. 

Disabled access - Ground floor of Villa fully accessible - no access to other floors - grounds largely accessible. Video of upstairs playing in Butler's room.