THE future of the most significant inhabited building at risk in Wales is now secure.
The Landmark Trust, which took over Llwyn Celyn in 2012, a Grade I-listed medieval hall house, near Abergavenny, announced this morning that it has secured £2.5million from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards its restoration.
The rare medieval building at Crucorney Fawr, which is less than six miles away from Llanthony Priory, is regarded as one of the most remarkable of all surviving late medieval houses in Wales-dating back to the late 15th century.
Continuously inhabited since it was built around 1480, Llwyn Celyn has scarcely changed since a floor was inserted into its open hall in the 17th century.
The grant will enable the Landmark Trust, which is a building preservation charity, to save and restore the main house to create self-catering holiday accommodation and to repair and convert outbuildings into education and interpretation centres for use by the local community and public.
The total cost of the restoration project is £4.2million. In addition to the £2.5million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Trust has raised almost £1.3million with the help of its supporters. But £380,000 still needs to be raised by the end of December in order for work to begin on site at the start of 2016.
The combination of funding will secure the building future, which has been hanging in the balance for decades. Today it is in an extreme state of disrepair; the building protected by scaffolding since the early 1990’s. It’s roof is leaking, floors braced with metal props and its timber structure damp and decaying as run-off from the hillside affects several rooms.
Dr Anna Keay, director of the Landmark Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund and to the Landmark Trust’s supporters for their generous donations to the Llwyn Celyn appeal.”
“Such remarkable historic buildings are irreplaceable. If no one intervenes then these rare buildings not only disappear forever from our landscape, but so do the stories that these sites tell us about the lives of our ancestors. By creating a new Landmark, we ensure its survival for generations to come.”
Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund Wales, Richard Bellamy, added: “This ambitious project is not simply about preserving a significant piece of Welsh history in the form of a medieval hall-it’s also about making the space a meaningful place for people today.”
“As well as providing a boost to local tourism, the project will give people opportunities to access the buildings and use the spaces to help people learn about heritage, gain new skills and support community events.”