Introduction
Plas Penglais is a late-18th-century country house. It has a 19th-century woodland garden, unusual trees and shrubs and a 20th-century botany garden containing many choice and half-hardy plants.
Part of the dingle is accessible by public footpath and the garden has occasional open days.
Terrain
hilly
- Visitor Access, Directions & Contacts
Telephone
01443 336000Website
http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/Directions
Plas Penglais is north of the A487 where it climbs the hill eastward out of Aberystwyth. The gateway is marked by a lodge, and is opposite the entrance to Aberystwyth University campus.
Owners
Aberystwyth University
Old College, King Street, Aberystwyth, SY23 2AX
- History
Period
- 18th Century (1701 to 1800)
- Late 18th Century (1775 to 1799)
- Associated People
- Features & Designations
Designations
CADW Register of Landscapes Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales
- Reference: PGW(Dy)47(CER) part of
- Grade: II*
CADW Register of Listed Buildings in Wales
- Reference: Plas Penglais
- Grade: II
Features
- Ornamental Bridge
- Description: Two of the original four bridges survive in good condition, a third is inaccessible near the greenhouses, and the fourth is gone. Two bear a slate plaque inscribed "This bridge and railings were Planed by Avarina W. A. Richards in 1844". Another bears the same legend, with the name "Charles Richards 1844". In 1844 Charles was 14 and Avarina 9 years of age.
- Earliest Date:
- Terrace
- Description: There is a walled terrace. This appears to date from the Georgian garden and resembles that in the late-18th-century watercolour. It terminates in an alcove and a doorway through to the garden beyond.
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- Latest Date:
- Pond
- Description: A slate-edged formal lily pond was built on the narrow lawn of the terrace to the west of the mansion.
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- Tropical House
- Description: A tropical and adjoining temperate glasshouse were used for growing teaching specimens for the Botany department. Replaced in 1981 it is still maintained for a supply of teaching specimens.
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- Villa (featured building)
- Description: The three bay villa was remodelled in 1841-2, and rebuilt in 1951 with a new side elevation by Sir Percy Thomas. An elevation attributed to Thomas F. Pritchard shows the facade flanked by tiny pavilions. Instead, a terrace and fruit wall seems to have been built.
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- Key Information
Type
Garden
Purpose
Ornamental
Principal Building
Domestic / Residential
Period
18th Century (1701 to 1800)
Survival
Extant
Hectares
5
Civil Parish
Aberystwyth
- References
References
- CADW, {Register of Landscapes, Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales: Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire} (Cardiff: CADW, 2002) Register of Landscapes, Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales: Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire
- Palmer, C., David, P, Laidlaw, R., {Historic parks and Gardens in Ceredigion} (Talybont, 2006) Historic Parks and Gardens in Ceredigion
- Corfield, John {A potted History of the Botanical Gardens, PROM, 16} (2004), 25-27 PROM
Contributors
Caroline Palmer